Iran’s top security official issued a stark warning on Saturday, saying any nation that joins the United States in what Tehran describes as an economic war will face retaliation. The statement came as Egypt called on both Iran and Washington to return to diplomacy and bring an end to a confrontation that has lasted nearly six months.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told state broadcaster IRIB that Tehran is urging every country, particularly its neighbours, to stay out of the US economic campaign. “Any country that takes part in imposing economic restrictions on us will be regarded as an enemy,” he said, promising a “seismic” response.
Rezaei said Iran’s approach would follow a three stage sequence, beginning with negotiations aimed at reducing tensions. “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. But if they do not act, we will strike. We will target that country’s interests,” he explained.
His remarks came days after US President Donald Trump announced plans for what he called the “most crushing economic operation” yet against Iran. Trump also warned of “tremendous economic consequences” for any country that offers Iran “any type of lifeline”. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced that message the following day, saying, “You’re either with us or against us,” and called on China, which purchases more than 80 percent of Iran’s exported oil, to cooperate. Bessent is expected to unveil the specifics of the new sanctions on Monday.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the looming US measures as an “assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent member state of the United Nations”. In a post on X, he added, “Such secondary sanctions find no foundation in international law.”
The heightened rhetoric comes as efforts to end the war remain stalled, with traffic through the Strait of Hormuz still effectively halted. Iran closed the crucial shipping lane shortly after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on February 28, sending commodity prices, including oil and fertiliser, skyrocketing. On Saturday, Iran’s official IRNA news agency said special permission had been granted for Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the strait.
However, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reported that conditions in the waterway “remain vague”. Iran continues to insist the strait will stay shut until a US naval blockade is lifted. Talks between Iran and Oman on managing shipping in the area are still under way, but Asadi said, “So far, no deal has been reached.”
Separately, Egypt’s foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and the two reviewed the overall regional situation as well as ongoing attempts “to create an environment conducive to de-escalation”. The ministry noted they also discussed a “return to the diplomatic path”, including the negotiation track between Oman and Iran and the resumption of the implementation of the memorandum between the United States and Iran, with the ultimate goal of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement that addresses various concerns and enhances regional security and stability.
Araghchi briefed Abdelatty on “Iran’s view of ongoing developments, the course of negotiations and their challenges”, according to the ministry, which gave no further details.
Araghchi also said he had spoken with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, about “effective solutions to strengthen peace, stability and security in the West Asian region”.
