WANA (Jun 05) – Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council and Iran’s IRGC commander during the Iran-Iraq War, declared that Iran stands firmly behind Lebanese Hezbollah, warning adversaries that they must either accept Iran’s terms or face a powerful military retaliation.

 

Rezaei accused the United States of betraying diplomatic negotiations for a third time by imposing a blockade just one day before the expiration of a two-week ceasefire—an action he categorized as a de facto declaration of war and a breach of commitments on both the Iranian and Lebanese fronts.

 

He noted that Washington failed to uphold its obligations on the Lebanese front as well, following previous diplomatic breaches during the 12-Day War and the Ramadan War.

 

Addressing the pervasive atmosphere of distrust, Rezaei dismissed U.S. demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the blockade, pointing out that the strait is already open to international trade.

 

He demanded that the United States unfreeze at least $24 billion in blocked Iranian assets as a baseline measure to restore minimal trust in the ongoing negotiations.

 

Commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent actions, Rezaei described Trump’s strategy as a “fluctuating discourse” driven by economic necessity on one hand and the need to threaten Iran on the other. He stated that this psychological warfare technique has a definitive expiration date and has failed to work effectively.

 

Rezaei emphasized that abandoning allies destroys a nation’s reliability on the world stage, praising Hezbollah’s sacrifices and reaffirming Iran’s ironclad commitments to the group.

 

Following Israeli threats against Beirut and Dahiyeh, Rezaei revealed that all Iranian missiles were fully prepared to target northern occupied territories, warning the Israeli regime to leave Lebanon and emphasizing that the country is an inseparable component of any regional ceasefire agreement.

 

Describing the Strait of Hormuz as Iran’s ultimate deterrent arm, Rezaei noted that the country’s defense policies aim to secure Iran from conflict for the next 50 years by avoiding hasty decisions or unnecessary delays.

 

The General criticized the leadership of Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE for relying on outdated unipolar or bipolar political frameworks, warning that the U.S. will grow significantly weaker in the coming years and cautioning these neighbors against exploiting Iran’s patience.

 

While Iran overlooked the extensive support these states provided to Saddam Hussein during the eight-year war due to neighborly and Islamic ties, Rezaei warned that Tehran will no longer tolerate such exploitation.

 

He added that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have adopted more rational policies. To ensure lasting security, Rezaei proposed a new security architecture in the Persian Gulf, alongside a broader West Asian coalition involving Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, which he stated could form the world’s fourth major power block.

 

Rezaei credited Iran’s current missile and drone capabilities to the foundation laid during the eight-year war by figures such as Seyed Majid Mousavi, and late Tehrani Moghaddam and Hajizadeh, shattering the myth of U.S. superpower supremacy in the Persian Gulf.

 

Concluding his remarks, the General praised the Iranian people for their resilience over the past 90 days, during which they have taken to the streets as the vanguard of the nation.

 

He acknowledged the economic pressures of wartime and urged officials to better align themselves with the public, stating that the nation’s steadfastness serves as the ultimate lifeline and source of strength for the armed forces.