Iranian officials have issued stern warnings to neighbouring countries against supporting US economic measures, while US President Donald Trump makes controversial territorial claims regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's security establishment has escalated its rhetoric in response to US pressure, with security chief Mohsen Rezaei declaring that any nation joining American sanctions against Tehran will be treated as an adversary and face Iranian retaliation targeting their interests.
President Masoud Pezeshkian characterised the situation as a "full-scale economic, military and security war," though he dismissed American predictions that Iran would suffer economic collapse similar to Venezuela's. The Iranian leader's remarks suggest Tehran views the current tensions as part of a broader conflict extending beyond economic measures.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has made unprecedented territorial assertions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass. Trump first stated during a political rally that he considers the strait "American territory," subsequently reposting a map on his Truth Social account that formally designated it as "NEW US Territory."
These developments mark a significant escalation in US-Iran tensions and have potentially serious implications for regional stability and global commerce, given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping and energy markets.
