Iran says any country joining U.S. economic war to be considered "enemy"

A woman walks on a street in Tehran, Iran, June 8, 2026. (Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei warned Saturday that any country participating in the U.S. economic war against Iran will be considered an "enemy" by Tehran.

Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, made the remarks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV.

He said Iran would first negotiate with such countries and ask them to stay out of the conflict, but warned that if they refuse, Tehran will strike their interests, and that if surrounding countries choose to join the U.S. siege, Iran "will not let even a single drop of oil be exported from the Strait of Hormuz."

He noted that Iran has learned how to bypass U.S. sanctions and continue oil sales over the years.

Rezaei also repeated that the Hormuz Strait will remain closed unless the United States fulfills its commitments under the Iran-U.S. peace memorandum of understanding signed in June, adding that Washington must act first this time.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States would launch "the most crushing economic operation ever" against Iran, describing it as an "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale."