Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei raised the possibility of pursuing a nuclear weapon amid escalating U.S. pressure, while threatening to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed to nations supporting American economic sanctions. The remarks precede a fresh round of U.S. penalties.
Nuclear Ambiguity and Official Posture from Tehran
The possibility of a shift in Iran’s nuclear strategy entered official discourse when Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, questioned the utility of international non-proliferation commitments during an interview with state television.
Rezaei noted that Iran had already faced attacks despite holding membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, submitting to inspections, and cooperating extensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
If that is the case, why shouldn’t we seek the atomic bomb? Rezaei asked during his broadcast appearance, adding that Trump’s folly pushed the world toward possessing the nuclear bomb by leading states to believe atomic arms provide superior deterrence.
While Rezaei did not announce a formal shift in Tehran’s nuclear doctrine or issue an executive order to build a weapon, his position carries substantial weight. As secretary of the body managing the nuclear dossier—decisions that ultimately require authorization from the supreme leader—his public remarks represent a notable hardening of official rhetoric.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade and Economic Retaliation Threats
Alongside the nuclear remarks, Rezaei directed severe warnings toward Washington and regional neighbors participating in financial restrictions. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration prepared to unveil details of a new sanctions package following an announced campaign of economic warfare and unprecedented isolation against Tehran.
In response, Rezaei stated that Iran would deliver an earthquake-like response to any fresh American escalation. He explicitly threatened to prevent a single drop of oil from exiting the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf toward any nation joining the U.S. economic campaign.
Tehran indicated that the strategic waterway will not be opened, though Rezaei mentioned a specific understanding reached with Oman concerning a middle transit corridor. Any American movement utilizing southern shipping lanes, however, would face direct targeting.
The threats also extended beyond the primary strait. Rezaei warned that alternative petroleum export routes originating from the Persian Gulf would become targets if neighboring states aligned with the economic pressure campaign, designating such participating nations as adversaries whose interests would be struck.
Internal Divisions and the Push for a Political Solution
The escalatory rhetoric from security officials contrasts with parallel diplomatic appeals emerging from the executive branch. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for an end to the protracted state of neither war nor peace, urging a decisive pivot toward a political resolution.
The appointment of Rezaei earlier in the month as council secretary formed part of a broader shakeup across senior security and military positions. Observers viewed the personnel changes as a clear indicator of a more uncompromising political and military posture in Tehran.
Simultaneously, Iranian authorities sought to project military resilience following months of persistent strikes that damaged national infrastructure and military forces. State television broadcast footage documenting a surprise inspection by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi at an underground ballistic missile production facility.
Underground Arsenals and Domestic Arms Production
Military leadership used the facility inspection to emphasize ongoing domestic weapons manufacturing despite foreign pressure. Chief of Staff Abdollahi asserted that military production output over the preceding year had expanded significantly, while state media reported that suicide drone manufacturing had tripled since the onset of the 40-day conflict.
Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei reinforced that trajectory, confirming that strategic arms development remains uninterrupted. Production priorities continue to focus on ballistic missiles and cruise systems spanning varied operational ranges, calibrated directly to perceived security threats.
Independent tracking cited by international assessments indicates that although conventional forces sustained substantial structural damage from previous strikes, Iran retains sufficient missile and drone inventories to disrupt tanker traffic and strike regional rivals.
Sanctions Enforcement and Unresolved Regional Risks
Washington’s impending financial penalties target international institutions and foreign states providing commercial or financial lifelines to Tehran. With U.S. officials warning of severe secondary consequences for non-compliance, the confrontation risks moving beyond economic containment into direct maritime conflict.
Whether Tehran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz will translate into active naval interdiction remains the central unverified variable as the new sanctions take effect. International shipping markets face immediate exposure as Iranian leadership ties commercial navigation rights directly to the foreign policy choices of neighboring states.
