Iran has labeled U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of economic warfare as "empty talk" and issued a stern warning to neighboring countries against cooperating with Washington's intensifying sanctions campaign. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's powerful security chief, declared that Tehran would retaliate against any nation assisting the U.S. crackdown and threatened to disrupt oil flow through the Persian Gulf.
"If countries neighboring Iran cooperate with the Americans in the economic war, we will target their interests," Rezaei stated in an interview with Iranian state media. He added that Tehran could "dramatically widen its economic confrontation" if its neighbors side with Washington, although he insisted Iran does not seek to expand the conflict across the Middle East. A key threat involved potentially halting oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz if neighboring nations support the U.S. economic pressure.
These warnings come as the Trump administration prepares to implement what Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has described as the toughest sanctions yet against Iran. Rezaei also asserted that Iran would "neutralize the economic war" and suggested changes in diplomacy and military capabilities would be introduced. He insisted the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington met Iran's perceived commitments.
The rhetoric from the security establishment contrasts sharply with statements from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. On Sunday, Pezeshkian argued that Iran "cannot continue with war forever" and advocated for a resolution to the country's "neither war nor peace" state. He defended a previously collapsed memorandum of understanding with the United States, suggesting it represented the best path forward for Iran to resolve its issues with "logic and dignity."
Pezeshkian emphasized that military power alone could not safeguard Iran if its people lost faith in their government, stating, "We must stand with the people." He also highlighted his government's efforts to improve the lives of Iranians facing economic difficulties, aiming to restore dignity and pride. "Sometimes, a wise compromise can achieve more than hundreds of wars," he said.
The warnings from Rezaei put major Gulf energy producers like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on notice. While these nations have developed alternative export routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, Rezaei suggested that these alternative pathways might also be vulnerable. His comments signal a hardening stance from Iran's military-security apparatus, viewing cooperation with U.S. sanctions as participation in a wider conflict.
Despite the threats, there are indications that Iran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz may be facing challenges. Shipping data suggests an increase in crude exports via a southern route near Oman, and some oil companies have adopted tactics to make tanker journeys less detectable, potentially eroding Tehran's leverage over global energy trade.
