Iran warns countries against joining US ‘economic pressure campaign’

Tehran: A senior Iranian security official on Saturday warned neighbouring countries and other states against joining the United States in its “economic pressure campaign” against his nation, saying Tehran would regard such countries as “enemies”.

Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said in an interview with state-run IRIB TV that Iran would first seek dialogue with countries involved and urge them not to participate in what he called the US “economic war” against Iran.

However, if those countries choose to continue, Iran would target their interests, he said, adding that Tehran would not allow oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf if regional countries support the US “pressure campaign.”

Rezaei also said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States fulfils its commitments under a peace memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington in June, Xinhua News Agency reported.

His remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday “the most crushing economic operation ever taken” against any country providing a lifeline to Iran.

“This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that the US anti-Iran economic operation is doomed to fail like its other coercive measures against the country.

“14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed. 8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed. Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.’ Bound to fail,” Araghchi posted on social media platform X.

Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said that the United States is now further pressuring Iran under the label of an “economic war,” which he views as an attempt to cover up Washington’s previous failure.

Gharibabadi said in a social media post that while the United States claims Iran is “on the verge of collapse,” it is reaching out to all its allies for help, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported.

IANS