Iran's top security official warns regional states against backing US sanctions, threatens oil shipping
In his first interview since becoming head of Iran's supreme national security council, Mohsen Rezaei said any neighbor participating in US-led economic pressure would be treated as an enemy. He warned that Iran would target alternative oil shipping routes from the Gulf if sanctions are enforced. Rezaei also claimed Iran has not yet attacked American economic interests but would do so if the US imposes further sanctions.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, dismissed the new US sanctions push as “desperate,” while President Masoud Pezeshkian admitted the country faces inflation, unemployment, and livelihood struggles. The government has weathered multiple protest waves since late last year, with authorities reporting over 3,000 deaths during unrest they blamed on US and Israeli orchestration.
Mohsen Rezaei, the new head of Iran’s supreme national security council, warned neighboring states that joining US-led economic pressure would mark them as enemies. He threatened to strike alternative oil-shipping routes from the Gulf if sanctions are enforced, and said Iran has so far refrained from attacking American economic interests but would respond to further measures.
This escalation could deepen regional instability, as Gulf states reliant on oil exports may face direct threats to shipping lanes. Iranian citizens already coping with economic hardship may see further isolation, potentially fueling domestic unrest. Global energy markets could react sharply to any disruption, affecting consumers worldwide. The standoff may also harden diplomatic positions, reducing chances for negotiated relief.