Iran has issued a stark warning to neighboring nations – including countries in the Gulf, the Levant, and the Middle East – against participating in a United States-led economic war, escalating tensions and portraying a deliberate strategy of targeting their economies as a primary objective, according to Iranian officials. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, delivered this message in a Saturday interview with state broadcaster IRIB, asserting that the nation will ‘consider any country as an enemy’ if they join such a campaign, effectively signaling a significant escalation in its geopolitical posture. Rezaei detailed this concern following the announcement of President Donald Trump’s government undertaking the ‘most crushing economic operation’ against Iran, a move he characterized as part of ongoing hostilities between the two countries. The US and Israel have been locked in a protracted war with Iran since February 28, 2023, when the two allies launched an initial volley of attacks against Tehran, further intensifying the animosity. In addition to this warning, Trump has pledged ‘tremendous economic consequences’ for any nation that gives Iran ‘any type of lifeline’, a statement that has been interpreted as a deliberate attempt to destabilize Iran’s economy and potentially force a settlement. The Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, echoed this pledge, stating that any country attempting to provide aid to Iran would be ‘either with us or against us.’ Rezaei then outlined a three-stage strategy for Iran, beginning with negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions with neighboring countries. He proposed a phased approach, first focusing on diplomatic efforts to manage regional conflicts, followed by the separation of countries from the United States, and culminating in a targeted attack. While the US has not halted military operations against Iran, Rezaei suggested that the Trump administration is betting on economic pressure to fracture Iranian society, potentially leading to a protracted conflict. He further elaborated that the US might hope to disrupt Iranian unity through economic hardship and a surge in protests, prompting a military intervention. The US has, however, maintained a military presence in the region, including naval patrols and drone strikes, suggesting a continued focus on countering Iranian activities. Rezaei indicated that the Trump administration is attempting to exploit economic vulnerabilities to encourage a withdrawal from the conflict, suggesting that a shift in global trade patterns might be the key to achieving a resolution. The United Nations has noted the heightened tensions and is monitoring the situation closely, and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global trade, has experienced significant volatility as a result of the escalating geopolitical situation. Control over the Strait of Hormuz has become a persistent point of contention, with the US and Iran engaged in a protracted naval blockade, which has caused a surge in global oil and fertilizer prices. Iran has also initiated a cyber warfare campaign, targeting US and Israeli infrastructure, demonstrating a willingness to inflict economic damage on its adversaries. Rezaei warned that Iran would target alternative trade routes, particularly those used by the Gulf states, if regional states took part in the US’s plans of economic warfare. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also denounced the US measures as an assertion of ‘extraterritorial sovereignty’ over United Nations member states, further intensifying the diplomatic friction.”}
Source: Al Jazeera
