WANA (Aug 28) – Major General Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, delivered a stern warning to the United States and Israel on Thursday evening regarding any resumption of conflict, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz will only fully reopen once Washington fulfills Tehran’s conditions.

 

Rezaei declared that the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to defeat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, “We will prove that Netanyahu’s grave miscalculations have accelerated the end of the Zionist regime’s existence.”

 

Highlighting that Iran views the security of Lebanon as integral to broader West Asian stability, the Iranian official called for an immediate cessation of military operations against Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria.

 

He cautioned that continued regional escalation would generate severe political, economic, and security ramifications for all neighboring states, while also praising the leadership of Sheikh Naim Qassem within Hezbollah.

 

Rezaei outlined Tehran’s core requirements for any agreement with the United States, which include halting military actions across West Asia—specifically in Lebanon and Gaza—and securing a complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories.

 

He emphasized that regional security is interconnected, warning that instability in one nation inevitably drives up investment costs and hinders economic development across the region.

 

Southern Suburbs of Beirut Named a ‘Red Line’

Addressing current military dynamics, the Supreme National Security Council Chief asserted that Israel is no longer capable of advancing toward Beirut or its southern suburbs (Dahiyeh). He attributed this to significant Israeli casualties inflicted by Hezbollah over recent months, alongside the deterrent effect of Iranian warnings.

 

Designating Beirut and Dahiyeh as “red lines” for Tehran, Rezaei stated that Iran is closely monitoring developments and predicted an eventual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

 

Conversely, he dismissed the likelihood of Syria joining the conflict in Lebanon, citing Damascus’s internal challenges and frequent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory. According to Rezaei, Syrian authorities have concluded that Israel does not adhere to international agreements.

 

Regarding Hezbollah’s operational chain of command, Rezaei clarified that Iran does not interfere in the group’s tactical decisions or internal structure, noting that Hezbollah possesses sufficient military leadership to direct its own affairs independently.

 

Strait of Hormuz Conditions and Countermeasures to US Sanctions

Rezaei reiterated that while Iran does not seek war, it remains prepared for a new phase of conflict, warning that “any future confrontation will differ significantly from past ones.”

 

He explained that Iran has managed its military responses in structured stages—initially refraining from targeting US bases in Gulf states before broadening its scope to American installations elsewhere—in order to maintain legal legitimacy and adhere to humanitarian considerations.

 

Addressing renewed US economic pressure under the Trump administration, Rezaei characterized the approach as a reflection of limited military options. He warned that Tehran would counter any economic escalation by targeting US economic interests across the region.

 

Finally, Rezaei linked the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz directly to US compliance with Iran’s terms, primary among them being an end to regional conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

 

He noted that Iran has prepared a comprehensive list of requirements for Washington and currently permits only a designated temporary corridor for maritime transit through the middle of the strait, contingent upon a future memorandum of understanding with the United States.