Iran Official Warns of Possible Gulf Maritime Exclusion Zone if US ‘Economic Warfare’ Persists

A senior Iranian security official has issued a stark warning that continued U.S. economic pressure on Tehran could prompt Iran to establish a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated early Tuesday that Washington had already received a clear signal through Iran’s recent missile displays. In a post on the social media platform X, Rezaei declared: “Economic warfare will be met by a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf to the blockade perimeter.”

He further asserted that Tehran has “fundamentally recalibrated” its operational posture toward U.S. warships and military bases in the region.

The remarks come against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions that began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and American interests across the Middle East.

In June, Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. The agreement outlined steps aimed at ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and addressing economic restrictions. Both sides have since accused each other of failing to fulfill their commitments under the deal. Military frictions have persisted alongside ongoing disputes over sanctions and freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway.

Rezaei’s comments mark one of the most direct public threats from a high-level Iranian official linking economic measures to potential restrictions on Gulf shipping lanes.