Tehran, Aug 2026 : Iran's newly appointed top security official Mohsen Rezaei has warned neighbouring countries against joining the United States' campaign to economically pressure Tehran, saying countries that participate could face retaliation and see their interests targeted.
Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran could respond by targeting oil-shipping routes outside the Strait of Hormuz if neighbouring nations assist what Iran describes as an American economic war.
He warned that countries joining the US campaign would be regarded as enemies by Iran and could become targets for retaliatory action.
The remarks followed US President Donald Trump's pledge to impose what he described as an unprecedented level of economic warfare and isolation against Iran. Tehran has faced extensive US sanctions for years, particularly targeting its energy and financial sectors.
“If Trump wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” Rezaei said in an interview with Iran's state broadcaster IRIB that was aired Saturday.
The senior Iranian official also cautioned Washington against sending additional military personnel to the Middle East. He accused the United States of contributing to increasing nuclear insecurity globally and said Iran was preparing for possible future confrontation by adjusting its diplomatic strategy and developing new capabilities.
The warnings came as diplomatic efforts continued to prevent further escalation and explore possibilities for restarting negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Egypt's foreign minister has held discussions with his Iranian counterpart on efforts to revive US-Iran talks. Meanwhile, Iraq and Iran said Tehran had facilitated the movement of some Iraqi oil tankers through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most significant energy shipping routes.
France and Saudi Arabia are also expected to discuss alternative shipping routes that could reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz amid growing regional uncertainty.
The latest developments come against the backdrop of heightened tensions across the Middle East. Israel has continued military operations in Syria and Gaza, adding another layer of complexity to regional security calculations.
Iran's latest warnings indicate that Tehran could seek to broaden the economic and strategic consequences of any international effort to isolate it. With the Strait of Hormuz playing a critical role in global energy supplies, any disruption to regional shipping could have implications well beyond the immediate parties to the dispute.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
