Iran Threatens Gulf States Over US Economic War

Mohsen Rezaei warns that Tehran will target the interests of neighboring countries that support Washington’s economic pressure campaign

Iran has threatened to target the interests of neighboring countries that support the United States in what Tehran describes as an “economic war” against the Islamic Republic, raising the stakes across the Persian Gulf.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued the warning in an interview with Iranian broadcaster IRIB, saying Tehran would respond forcefully to any new aggressive action by President Donald Trump.

“We are telling neighboring countries not to participate in the economic war with America,” Rezaei said, warning that if they joined Washington’s campaign, Iran would “harm their interests.” The warning was directed at countries in the region that could cooperate with the United States in applying economic pressure on Tehran.

Rezaei also threatened to prevent oil from leaving the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, saying that “not a single drop of oil” would leave the area. His comments came as Washington prepares new economic measures against Iran and seeks to increase pressure on its economy.

The Iranian official accused Washington of having lost faith in military attacks against Iran and turning instead toward economic pressure. He also criticized President Trump over what he described as the consequences of US military action for global nuclear security, arguing that the attacks had demonstrated the “ineffectiveness” of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The warning comes as Trump has continued to make claims over the strategic waterway. In a post on Truth Social, the US president shared an image of the Strait of Hormuz with the words “new American territory.”

Trump had already suggested on August 17 that declaring the strait US territory was “a great idea,” saying he had “total control” over the waterway. On August 14, during an event in New York, he said he would soon proclaim Hormuz “United States territory.”

Iranian officials have rejected the idea. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on August 15 that the Strait of Hormuz could not be conquered “with a tweet.” Four days later, he warned that Trump’s “illusion” about the waterway would soon be corrected.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian convened Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei to discuss recent international developments and Iran’s economic situation.

Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Iran would not allow what he called “American economic terrorism” to undermine the country’s economic stability or the livelihoods of its population. He argued that economic pressure would not change the will of the Iranian people.

Iran has also sought to project readiness for a prolonged confrontation. Reza Talaei Nik, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said the country’s weapons and ammunition production had continued without interruption during recent conflicts and claimed that production had more than tripled during the war.

He also said Iran had modernized its strategic weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles, and was better prepared than its adversaries for a prolonged conflict.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)