Iran’s newly appointed head of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, issued a stark warning on X on Sunday, stating that any nation that backs fresh U.S. economic measures against the Islamic Republic will be regarded as committing an “act of war.” Rezaei, a former Revolutionary Guard commander and close adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, made the comments a day after delivering his most extensive public remarks since taking the post earlier this month.
Potential retaliation and alternative shipping routes
In the interview aired late Saturday on state television, Rezaei said, “If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner.” He added that Iran could target oil‑shipping routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting a shift to alternative passages in the Persian Gulf.
President Pezeshkian defends diplomatic effort
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking Sunday, described a memorandum of understanding signed in mid‑June as the most viable way to move beyond a state of “neither war nor peace.” He emphasized that the agreement contains no provisions amounting to capitulation and that the supreme leader sets policy, which the government will follow. The interim deal opened a 60‑day window for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, a period that ended last week without a renewed extension.
U.S. Treasury plans new sanctions
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to announce a new package of sanctions on Monday, following a U.S. pledge to impose an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare and isolation on Iran, a nation that has endured decades of sanctions.
Strait of Hormuz activity
While no attacks were confirmed in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 48 hours, a multinational coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy reported reduced shipping traffic. The U.S. military said its blockade of Iranian ports had redirected 70 commercial vessels and disabled three as of Sunday. Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority, sanctioned by the United States, published a list of dozens of ships it claims violated transit arrangements and warned of future fines or seizures.
Regional diplomatic moves
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is scheduled to travel to Tehran on Monday as part of regional efforts to de‑escalate tensions and encourage both sides to return to the negotiating table. Iranian state television cited the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei for the announcement.
Domestic developments in Iran
Iran’s judiciary reported the execution of Majid Adineh, arrested during the January protests in Mohammadshahr, west of Tehran. Authorities said forensic evidence linked a handgun found on him to shootings on Jan. 8 and 9, and that he had received training from foreign groups. The execution follows a series of crackdowns on protest participants earlier this year.
These developments come amid ongoing regional instability, with parallel reports of violence in the occupied West Bank and Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that resulted in civilian casualties, including a four‑year‑old child.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
