Iran has issued a stark warning to neighboring countries, stating that any nation participating in the United States’ campaign to dismantle the Iranian economy will be treated as an enemy. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, delivered the ultimatum during an interview with state broadcaster IRIB on Saturday.
The declaration follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, in which he vowed to launch the “most crushing economic operation” against Tehran to date. This move is part of an ongoing conflict between the two nations that began on February 28, when the US and Israel initiated a series of military strikes against Iranian targets.
Beyond direct economic pressure, President Trump has promised “tremendous economic consequences” for any state that provides a “lifeline” to Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced this stance, warning international partners that they must choose between aligning with the US or facing the repercussions of their support for Tehran.
Rezaei outlined a three-stage Iranian response to these regional pressures. He explained that Tehran prefers to start with negotiations and diplomatic outreach to persuade neighbors to distance themselves from Washington, noting that Iran does not wish to expand the scope of the current war. If diplomacy fails, he indicated that countries would be given a period to reconsider their positions before Iran takes definitive action in a third stage.
Tehran contends that the US is attempting to fracture Iranian domestic unity by leveraging economic hardship to incite street protests, which officials claim would effectively support American F-35 military operations. These tensions have persisted despite previous attempts at peace; a June 17 memorandum of understanding that sought an immediate and permanent end to hostilities ultimately failed, leaving diplomatic efforts stalled.
The conflict has significantly disrupted global trade, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. Since Iran closed the vital shipping lane early in the war, the costs of essential commodities like oil and fertilizer have surged. While many Middle Eastern nations have sought alternative export routes to bypass the blockade, Rezaei warned that Iran is prepared to target these new shipping channels if regional states actively join the US-led economic war.
In response to the latest threats, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incoming US measures on Saturday, characterizing them as an unlawful assertion of “extraterritorial sovereignty” over other United Nations member states. Furthermore, reports suggest that Tehran is considering expanding its potential target list beyond the Middle East to include US allies in Europe that have provided support for the Trump administration’s operations. The report also notes that otherwise, we will consider them as enemies,” Rezaei told IRIB. The report also notes that his Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, echoed his threats the following day, saying, “You’re either with us or against us.”. The report also notes that then, we try to separate them from America with pleasant language, because we are not really looking to expand the war,” he said. The report also notes that “But in the third stage, we will definitely act.”. The report also notes that a major shipping lane off the coast of Iran, has become an enduring sticking point between the US and Iran, control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Al Jazeera
