Iran's Revolutionary Guards (the elite ideological military force answerable to the supreme leader) issued an open "message to the American people" on Tuesday, with spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi vowing to use new weapons, produced in large quantities, if the US renews attacks on Iran. He denied the message was meant to sway America's November midterm elections, rejected US claims that Tehran seeks nuclear arms as "the lie of the century," and accused Washington of imposing an air blockade after a naval blockade failed. The warning comes after several rounds of US strikes and Iranian retaliation against US-linked targets in the region, amid diplomatic efforts to restart talks and continuing disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz.