Iran has issued a stern warning to its neighboring countries, threatening to treat them as enemies and target their interests should they align with the United States' campaign to cripple the Iranian economy. The declaration was made by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an interview with state broadcaster IRIB on Saturday.

Rezaei’s remarks come amid escalating economic threats from the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has vowed to undertake the "most crushing economic operation" against Iran. These actions are part of ongoing hostilities that began on February 28 with an initial volley of attacks by the US and Israel against Tehran. Trump has also pledged "tremendous economic consequences" for any nation providing Iran with a "lifeline," a sentiment echoed by his Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, who stated, "You're either with us or against us."

In the interview, Rezaei outlined Iran's regional strategy as a three-stage process. The initial phase involves de-escalating tensions through negotiation. "First we negotiate," he stated, adding that Iran would then "try to separate them from America with pleasant language, because we are not really looking to expand the war." Countries that persist in siding with the US would be granted time to reconsider their stance before Iran "will definitely act" in the third stage.

The US administration appears to be banking on economic pressure to fracture Iranian society and force an end to the conflict. Rezaei suggested this strategy aims to "break our unity with economic pressure and a group of protesters will take to the streets, and in a way, they will come to the aid of American F-35s," referencing the military aircraft.

Negotiations to end the protracted conflict have faltered in recent months. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 17, which called for an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations," ultimately failed to achieve its objectives. Control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane adjacent to Iran, remains a persistent point of contention between the two nations.

While the US has not ceased its military operations against Iran, the focus of its strategy appears to be shifting towards economic leverage. The effectiveness of these sanctions in achieving their intended political outcomes remains a subject of international debate, with past instances showing mixed results.

Rezaei's pronouncements signal Iran's intent to counter perceived external pressures by asserting its regional influence and warning against international cooperation with US sanctions. The effectiveness of this warning and the potential responses from regional countries will be closely watched.

This latest development underscores the deepening geopolitical tensions in the region and the complex interplay between economic pressure, military actions, and diplomatic efforts in resolving international disputes.