Iran war live: Tehran warns neighbours against joining US economic war

Mohsen Rezaei Issues Direct Threats Over U.S. Economic Pressure Campaign

Tehran’s newly appointed security leadership has drawn a hard line against regional cooperation with Washington. Mohsen Rezaei, the hard-line secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued an extensive public warning on Saturday through state broadcaster IRIB, marking his most prominent statement since taking office earlier this month as part of senior appointments widely seen as hardening Tehran’s political and military stance.

Rezaei directed his comments squarely at nations sharing borders or maritime boundaries with Iran, demanding they reject economic alignment with the United States amid a tightening sanctions push. We are telling all surrounding countries not to participate in the economic war with America, otherwise we will consider it an enemy, Rezaei said in the televised interview. He added, We are not seeking to expand the war, but if the countries surrounding Iran join the Americans in the economic war, we will strike their interests, and noted that Tehran would harm their interests if regional countries supported Washington’s economic pressure measures.

U.S.-Iran Live Updates: Iran declares victory as U.S. turns to economic warfare

The security chief expanded on those warnings by detailing specific economic and geographic leverage points Tehran intends to deploy. He asserted that if neighboring states join the American campaign, not a single drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, Rezaei threatened to target other routes through which oil is exported from the Persian Gulf. If Trump wants to take action, we will respond in kind with earthquake-like force, Rezaei said, also phrasing the retaliation as a seismic manner. Rezaei stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite U.S. claims to the contrary and would not reopen until Washington corrects its behavior, emphasizing that this time, it is the United States that must first fulfill its commitments.

Rezaei added that discussions with Oman, located on the other side of the strait, over the management of it were ongoing, and stated that fees would be imposed. Iran asserted control over what was seen as an international waterway shortly after the U.S. and Israel attacked on Feb. 28. Rezaei additionally vowed to make changes to Iran’s diplomacy and bring new capabilities to what he called the next war, while warning the U.S. against sending more military personnel to the region.

Live Updates: Latest from Israel, Iran, and the Middle East

Donald Trump Announces ‘Economic D-Day’ as Iranian Officials Push Back

The latest threats follow an escalation from Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump announced what he described as an “Economic D-Daycampaign against Iran, calling it themost crushing economic operation ever taken against any country” and urging U.S. allies to join Washington in isolating Tehran. Trump vowed in the past week to increase Iran’s pain by imposing an unprecedented level of economic warfare and isolation, though Iran has lived under sanctions for years.

Trump stated that the new measures would target Iran’s economic lifelines, including oil smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, and front companies. Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop now, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. You know who you are. This will be an Economic D-Day, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate and defeat the Iran threat, Trump added.

Iran war live Trump says Strait of Hormuz is US territory

Iranian officials rejected the renewed pressure. Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref had earlier criticized the U.S. economic pressure campaign, saying sanctions would not change the Iranian people’s resolve and that the government would not allow America’s economic terrorism to target the economy.

Egypt Pursues Diplomatic Talks While Iraqi Oil Transit Continues

While hard-line rhetoric dominates military circles, diplomatic channels remain active. Egypt is trying to revive Iran-U.S. negotiations. At the same time, Iraq and Iran say Tehran has helped some ships carrying Iraqi oil to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, France and Saudi Arabia are expected to discuss plans to bypass the waterway.

Meanwhile, Israel has carried out strikes in Syria and in Gaza, marking further developments across the wider Middle East alongside the ongoing conflict involving Iran.