Iran’s army spokesman says Tehran is using the current ceasefire to upgrade its combat readiness, a warning that adds a harder military edge to the paused U.S.-Iran negotiations and the fight over Strait of Hormuz security.
Speaking Sunday on the sidelines of funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia said Iran was taking advantage of the ceasefire and would not waste the opportunity to strengthen its forces. Daily News Egypt reported that Akraminia told Fars News Agency: “We are taking advantage of the ceasefire opportunity to enhance our combat capabilities, and we do not waste a moment doing so.”
Mehr News Agency carried a similar account, quoting Akraminia as saying Iran uses ceasefire periods to upgrade combat capabilities and would give a “crushing and decisive response” to any miscalculation by adversaries.
Ceasefire Looks Less Like A Pause
The statement matters because the ceasefire is supposed to create room for negotiations, not simply give each side time to improve its position. U.S.-Iran talks have been paused during Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies, while the next steps on nuclear issues, sanctions relief, and Hormuz transit rules remain unsettled.
The Guardian reported Sunday that both sides are using the ceasefire to strengthen their military positions, while the contest over the Strait of Hormuz has intensified during the funeral period. The report said at least eight ships turned around Saturday after direct warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and that traffic flows dropped further Sunday.
The Guardian also reported that the June 17 memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran required Iran to use its best efforts to restore traffic near pre-blockade levels and avoid imposing tolls for 60 days. That clock is now becoming a pressure point, especially as Iran continues to argue for greater control over the waterway.
Washington Wants NATO More Involved
The Iranian warning landed just before the July 7-8 NATO summit in Ankara, where Washington is expected to press allies to contribute more to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Daily News Egypt cited a White House official saying the issue of Hormuz and protection of maritime traffic will be discussed at the summit.
The official said some allies have expressed willingness to help, but warned that many lack the ships or assets needed for a meaningful maritime security effort. That is the strategic gap Washington is trying to close before the Hormuz dispute hardens into a longer-term arrangement.
The military-readiness warning also fits a wider pattern. The Independent reported earlier that U.S. intelligence sources believed Iran was rebuilding military capacity faster than expected during the ceasefire, including drone production and missile-site recovery.
Why This Is A New Angle
Recent updates have focused on funeral crowds, Hormuz fees, ship movements, and U.S.-Iran talks. The fresh angle is the open Iranian acknowledgement that the ceasefire itself is being treated as a window for military improvement.
That changes the risk calculation. If the pause produces a diplomatic track, it could still buy time for a broader agreement. If it becomes a race to rebuild leverage, the same pause could make the next confrontation sharper, especially around Hormuz, where shipping, oil prices, and military signaling are already tied together.
For now, the message from Tehran is blunt: Iran says it is not standing down during the ceasefire. It says it is getting ready.