Iran threatens Gulf neighbors joining US 'economic war'

Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaee on Saturday warned neighboring countries against joining the United States' "economic war," threatening to treat them as enemies and block all oil exports from the Gulf if they cooperate with Washington.

Threats to regional states

Rezaee told state broadcaster IRIB that "We tell all neighboring countries not to participate in the economic war with the US; otherwise, we will consider them an enemy," adding that Tehran does not seek to widen the conflict. "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," he said.

He warned that cooperation with Washington would mean that "not a single drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz," which he said remains closed until Washington "corrects its behavior." Rezaee noted that Iran accounts for more than half of the Gulf coastline and should therefore manage the strategic waterway, adding that Iran would also target alternative export routes. "If Trump wants to take action, we will respond in kind with earthquake-like force," he said.

Diplomatic deadlock

US President Donald Trump announced this week his intention to launch "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country," describing the campaign against Tehran as "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale." Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding in June through Pakistani and Qatari mediation, ending hostilities which began in February, though talks have since stalled over disputes regarding implementation. "This time, it is the United States that must first fulfill its commitments," Rezaee said.