Iran's newly appointed supreme national security council leader, Mohsen Rezaei, warned neighbouring states against joining what he called a US-led 'economic war' on Tehran, threatening to target their interests and Gulf oil-shipping routes, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Mohsen Rezaei is the new hardline leader of Iran's supreme national security council, according to the Guardian.
- He said neighbours joining the US 'economic war' would be 'considered an enemy'.
- Rezaei threatened to target oil-shipping routes out of the Gulf that serve as alternatives to the strait of Hormuz.
- He also threatened US commercial interests in the region.
- The Guardian reported that Donald Trump repeated his assertion that the strait of Hormuz was US territory.
The newly appointed leader of Iran’s top security body has warned neighbouring countries not to join US efforts to pressure Tehran’s economy, and threatened American commercial interests in the region, according to the Guardian.
Mohsen Rezaei, described by the outlet as the hardline new leader of Iran’s supreme national security council, made the comments in a state television interview that the Guardian said was his first since being appointed to the council.
Rezaei said Iran would target oil-shipping routes out of the Gulf — alternatives to the strait of Hormuz — if its neighbours joined what he called the ‘economic war’ waged by the United States. He said those neighbours would be ‘considered an enemy’ and added, ‘we will target their interests.’
The Guardian reported that the warning came as US President Donald Trump repeated his assertion that the strait of Hormuz was a new US territory. The newspaper characterised that view as ‘fanciful’.
The strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments. Rezaei’s threat extended to alternative Gulf routes as well as the strait itself.
The Guardian reported that Rezaei also directly threatened US economic interests across the region as part of his response to Washington’s pressure on Iran’s economy.
Why it matters
The strait of Hormuz and surrounding Gulf routes carry a large share of the world's oil, so threats against them can rattle global energy markets and shipping. Rezaei's warning to Iran's neighbours raises the risk of a wider regional confrontation drawing in US allies and commercial interests.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mohsen Rezaei?
According to the Guardian, Mohsen Rezaei is the hardline new leader of Iran's supreme national security council, its top security body. The interview was described as his first since his appointment.
What exactly did Rezaei threaten?
He said Iran would target oil-shipping routes out of the Gulf that serve as alternatives to the strait of Hormuz if neighbours joined the US 'economic war', that such neighbours would be 'considered an enemy', and that Iran would target their interests, as well as US commercial interests in the region.
What did Trump say about the strait of Hormuz?
The Guardian reported that Trump reiterated his view — which the outlet called 'fanciful' — that the strait of Hormuz was a new US territory.