Iran Threatens Retaliation Against Countries Joining US Economic War
Key Points
- Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, warned on Saturday that any country joining US economic sanctions will be regarded as an enemy.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated "You're either with us or against us," urging cooperation from China, which purchases over 80 percent of Iran's oil.
- Iran threatens to block all oil shipments from the Gulf region, including through alternative routes like the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, if neighboring countries participate in US economic warfare.
The conflict has intensified since war began on February 28. Iran has attacked US military installations and civilian locations, with the US claiming Tehran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons—a claim debunked by US intelligence agencies and the UN's IAEA nuclear watchdog. The US operates military facilities in more than a dozen locations across the Middle East and North Africa, with bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, and thousands of US soldiers stationed across the region including in Jordan.
Rezaei outlined a three-stage Iranian response strategy. "Of course, we will first negotiate with them. We will hold talks and tell them to step aside and distance themselves from the United States," he said. "But if they do not act, we will strike. We will target that country's interests." His threat regarding alternative export routes likely refers to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait gateway to the Red Sea, which Saudi Arabia has used to export oil following the blockade of Hormuz.
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Iran has imposed its own blockade on Hormuz as leverage in negotiations with Washington, while the US has placed Iranian ports under naval blockade, impacting Tehran's international trade. President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Sunday that Iran is "in a full-scale economic, military and security war" with the US, stating that Washington's predictions of Iran's collapse had proven false. Hamidreza Azizi, a researcher on Iran at the Clingendael Institute, noted that Tehran appears to be establishing deterrence by signaling that even preparations for attack could trigger Iranian response, with an emerging "offensive doctrine" combining preemption and disproportionate retaliation.
With the US announcing new sanctions Monday and Trump's administration explicitly threatening consequences for countries aiding Iran, coupled with global dependence on Gulf oil exports, the warning signals potential economic disruption affecting nations worldwide, particularly those with existing US military agreements or cooperation.
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What Happens Next
Iran's retaliation threats will likely face immediate pushback from US-aligned Gulf states already hosting American military infrastructure. China's response to US pressure regarding Iranian oil purchases will be critical—continued purchases would test Bessent's "with us or against us" framing, while reduced purchases would validate US coercion. The Strait of Hormuz blockade risk could force energy markets to price in supply disruption premiums, particularly affecting European and Asian economies dependent on Gulf energy.
Sources: Al Jazeera and other international news outlets.
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