Iran Warns Neighbors against Joining US Economic War

Speaking in a televised interview on Saturday night, Rezaei said Iran’s defense strategy and international behavior have undergone significant changes following the recent US-Israeli war of aggression, stressing that the country would no longer conduct diplomacy in the same manner as before.

“Today’s Iran will not be the Iran before the war,” he said, adding that the US has also changed and that the international community is now viewing Iran differently.

Rezaei said Iran would have to adapt both its defense and diplomatic approaches in light of Washington’s violation of its commitments and betrayal of negotiations.

He also said the US image as a peace-seeking country has changed among both the international community and Iranian society, arguing that Washington has exposed its “true image” by attacking Iran and assassinating the country’s Leader and striking schools.

The SNSC secretary said the decision by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to appoint experienced commanders means that Iran would make use of its wartime experience in any future confrontation.

“There will certainly be changes in the management and conduct of the war and in Iran’s diplomatic behavior,” Rezaei said, attributing the changes to the US betrayal of negotiations and its failure to honor its signature.

Rezaei further criticized US President Donald Trump’s policies, saying Trump’s “foolishness” has created a huge burden for the American people, US allies and the entire world.

He pointed to rising yields on long-term US bonds, saying Trump had entered office with the slogan of “making America great again,” but that “America’s debt has become greater.”

According to Rezaei, the US now has to spend an additional $3.7 trillion on its debt.

He also argued that Trump’s policies have harmed both the US and its allies, saying 1,200 oil tankers have become unusable and the cost of fuel for those vessels has increased several times.

“Trump has increased the logistical risk to global trade,” he said.

Rezaei further argued that US policies have increased global interest in nuclear weapons rather than enhancing nuclear security.

He said Iran has been ahead of other countries in terms of its commitment to nuclear regulations, noting that the Islamic Republic had joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and accepted the presence of international inspectors.

Rezaei said the United States has become disappointed with military attacks and has consequently turned toward economic pressure.

“The Americans became disappointed with military attacks. They sat down and said that if we economically besiege Iran, this will help our war,” he said.

He added that Washington has appointed the US Treasury secretary to lead the economic war against Iran, arguing that the move reflects the failure of the military campaign.

“They want to break the unity of the people through economic pressure and bring some people into the streets,” Rezaei said, adding that the Americans have realized that military confrontation “no longer works.”

He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had initially urged Trump to subject Iran to six months of economic pressure, while Trump had reportedly rejected that timeframe, after which Netanyahu suggested applying pressure for two months.

“They have now made a wrong decision,” Rezaei said.

He described Trump’s economic-war campaign as largely propaganda, asking what Washington could do that it had not already done.

Regarding the possibility of a maritime blockade, Rezaei said such measures are not new, noting that Iran has exported around 70 million barrels of oil over the previous one or two months.

Rezaei issued a direct warning to Iran’s neighboring countries against participating in the US economic campaign.

“We tell all neighboring countries not to enter the economic war against Iran. Anyone who enters it, we will consider that country an enemy,” he said.

He said Iran would initially negotiate with countries to persuade them not to participate, but warned that if they continue, Tehran will target those countries.

“If they start such an action, we will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Persian Gulf,” Rezaei warned. “Oil will leave neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor the Persian Gulf.”

He said Iran has currently closed the Strait of Hormuz while not interfering with Persian Gulf oil.

Rezaei added that Iran has so far refrained from attacking US economic interests, although it has struck US military bases.

“Our brothers are ready for operations, but we are moving along a wise and logical course,” he said, expressing hope that Washington would end its hostile actions so that Iran would not have to move to the next stage.

Rezaei said Iran is not currently considering reopening the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Washington must act first and fulfill its commitments.

“This time, America must act first. Therefore, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is not on the table,” he said.

He explained that Iran views the Strait as having two dimensions: one related to its shared trade route with Oman and another concerning Iran’s strategic control over the entrance to the Persian Gulf.

Rezaei said Iran and Oman have reached an understanding over a middle route for their shared trade, although a joint statement has yet to be prepared.

“That is on paper, and the Strait of Hormuz will be opened when the Americans fulfill their commitments,” he said.

He added that Iran has already announced its conditions for reopening the Strait and that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has conveyed those conditions to the United States.

“We are serious about diplomacy, but we have changed our method. We will no longer sit at the negotiating table like a polite child,” Rezaei said. “We are waiting for the commitments to be implemented.”

He said Iran wanted the wars in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen to end.

Rezaei said future developments would be determined both on the battlefield and through diplomacy. “We see diplomacy as a battlefield,” he said.

“Trump and Netanyahu cannot do anything,” Rezaei asserted.

He also warned Washington against deploying additional forces to the region.

“We advise America not to add forces, because if they do, we will strike them,” he said, adding that Iran would also respond to any meetings Washington held with Iranian opposition groups.

Rezaei said Iran’s current attacks are targeted and that Tehran would neutralize the economic war.

“America is in a corner. Either they give us their commitments, or they will have to come out of the corner and struggle, which will make the situation worse,” he said.