Iran threatens action over US economic support

Iran’s National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei has warned that the interests of countries assisting the

Iran’s National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei has warned that the interests of countries assisting the United States in its economic war against Iran could be targeted.

In an interview, Major General Mohsen Rezaei urged Iran’s neighbouring countries not to cooperate with Washington against Tehran. He warned that Iran could consider them hostile if they joined the US economic campaign.

Rezaei said Iran did not want to escalate the conflict. However, he warned that any neighbouring country supporting the economic war could face attacks on its interests.

He also threatened to prevent even a single drop of oil from passing through the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz. He said other routes used to import oil through the Persian Gulf could also be targeted.

Rezaei further warned that locations linked to Iranian opposition groups could also come under attack if the United States continued meeting groups opposed to the Iranian government.

According to Rezaei, the US had expected to end the conflict within a few days and take control of Iran’s oil and gas resources. He claimed that around 1,200 oil tankers had become unusable during the conflict, affecting 15 per cent of the global fleet.

He said Tehran should reconsider its approach to the conflict and its diplomatic engagement with the international community. Rezaei accused Washington of failing to honour its commitments.

Rezaei said Iran was no longer the same country it was before the conflict. He described new military appointments by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei as a sign that Iran was preparing for war.

He added that the perception of the United States among Iranian youth had also changed. According to him, many young Iranians no longer view America as a country committed to peace.

Rezaei accused Washington of betraying negotiations, diplomacy and agreements it had signed. He also warned that US policies could encourage more countries to seek nuclear weapons.

He criticised US President Donald Trump and claimed that the world had begun viewing Iran differently.

Rezaei said Iran would change its approach to warfare and use the lessons learned from the current conflict in any future war.

Asked about the Makkah agreement involving Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, Rezaei said it indicated that the United States had informed those countries of its intention to leave the region.

On former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, Rezaei said those who believed his return would turn Iran into a “paradise” should reconsider their view. He claimed that bringing Pahlavi back to power could instead lead to Iran being divided into five parts.