Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, said that Iran’s defense strategies have undergone development, stressing that “Iran today is not the Iran before the war,” and that the image of the United States has also changed.
In remarks to Iranian television, Rezaei explained that the world now views Iran “with a new perspective,” pointing to the need to reform Iran’s diplomatic conduct following several rounds of negotiations and the United States’ failure to honor its commitments.
He affirmed that Iranian fighters are ready to carry out operations, warning that if the United States launches an economic war, “not a single drop of oil will leave the Gulf,” noting that Iran exported 70 million barrels of oil over the past two months.
Rezaei called on the countries surrounding Iran not to enter into an economic war against it, warning that any country that participates would be considered “an enemy state.”
He said that Tehran would first negotiate with the surrounding countries to prevent them from assisting Washington, “and if they continue, we will target them.”
He added that Iran is currently moving “at a rational and logical pace,” expressing hope that the United States would end its hostile actions and that matters would not reach “the next stage.”
Rezaei warned the United States against sending additional forces, saying that Iran would target them if they were deployed, and also threatened to target any meeting Washington holds with “hostile elements.”
He noted that the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council is currently working on preparing a document on the country’s economic security.
Rezaei said that the Strait of Hormuz is “closed despite the Americans’ claims,” and will not be reopened until “the United States corrects its conduct,” stressing that Washington is required this time to fulfill its commitments first.
He affirmed that Iran wants to end the war in West Asia, noting that it has stood against the “warmongers of the world.”
Rezaei considered that the prestige of F-35 aircraft had been shattered in Iran, and that Arab countries no longer trust American weapons. He added that the American people oppose war and do not support their military or government, while “the people and government in Iran are united and stand behind the armed forces.”
He said that the Americans had been disappointed by the military attacks and believe that military measures could be supported through an economic blockade, adding that the head ot the "Israeli governement" Benjamin Netanyahu promised US President Donald Trump that imposing an economic blockade on Iran for two, three, or six months would lead to its surrender.
He said that the world had realized that Trump’s threats and displays of force were “nothing but empty talk,” and that Trump is “alone” and has become in need of assistance from NATO and its allies, stressing that Iran has learned over the years how to circumvent sanctions and sell its oil.
For his part, strategic affairs expert Mohammad Marandi said that any regime in the region that assists the United States in the economic war “will face punishment.”
Marandi added that if Iran is unable to export its oil, regimes in West Asia and even the Caucasus “will not export their oil either,” affirming that Iran “is not in a ceasefire situation but in a state of war,” and that economic sanctions constitute part of this war.
He warned that Iran could take the initiative to attack bases and oil fields in regional countries if they assist the United States in imposing an economic blockade on it.
He pointed out that General Mohsen Rezaei holds a doctorate in economics and therefore “knows very well the importance of and how to confront economic warfare.”
Marandi warned countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against assisting the United States in imposing the blockade on Iran, stressing that Tehran is “serious about punishing them” if they participate in it.
