Tehran/Washington, March 22, 2026: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has sharpened its response to the United States, using a pointed remark directed at former US president Donald Trump amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.

The exchange follows reports that Trump issued a 48-hour warning to Iran to reopen the strategic waterway or face possible US action, underscoring growing friction in a region critical to global energy flows.

According to Iranian military-linked outlets, an IRGC spokesperson delivered the response from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stating: “Hey Trump, you’re fired. You are familiar with this sentence. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” The remark referenced Trump’s well-known phrase popularised during his time on the television show The Apprentice.

Rising tensions over key maritime route

In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump reportedly warned that if Iran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without threat, the United States could target key infrastructure, including power facilities.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil transit chokepoints, making any escalation in the area a matter of international concern.

Officials in Iran also indicated that regional dynamics are shifting, with the IRGC stating that the “equations of war are rapidly changing,” reflecting heightened rhetoric between the two sides.