Mohsen Rezaei, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, said the Strait of Hormuz is more important than dozens of nuclear bombs and warned that Trump and Netanyahu crossed red lines requiring a proportionate response. He declared that after 'hostility and crimes,' talk of friendship with the US is meaningless, and called on Iranians to defend their rights and dignity with strength.
**New development at 15:14 Jerusalem.** Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, issued a third statement today that combines and escalates his earlier themes. He declared that the Strait of Hormuz is strategically more important than 'dozens of nuclear bombs,' warned that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'crossed some of the most important red lines of the Islamic Republic' and must receive a 'proportionate response,' and added a categorical rejection of any future friendship with the United States: 'After so much hostility and crimes, there is no longer any meaning to talk of friendship with the United States.' He called on Iranians to 'defend their rights and dignity with strength.'
**Dated antecedents.** The thread began at 09:06 Jerusalem with multiple Iranian officials asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz. The first statements—from parliament spokesman Ebrahim Rezaee and then from the Supreme Leader's senior military advisor Ibrahim Redai—escalated from 'control with strength' to 'seized by force.' At 12:42 Jerusalem, Rezaei himself warned that Trump and Netanyahu crossed Iran's red lines and demanded a 'decisive and proportionate response.' At 13:36 Jerusalem, he argued that the Strait of Hormuz outweighs dozens of nuclear bombs and that Iran will defend it. The present statement at 15:14 Jerusalem reinforces both earlier points while adding the explicit rejection of US friendship.
**Attributed background.** The statements are part of an ongoing Iranian campaign over the strategic waterway. As The Zioneer reported on June 27, Rezaei accused the United States of violating a memorandum of understanding governing the Strait of Hormuz, warning of a 'swift and decisive' response. The dispute has involved multiple Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Khamenei, who has set maintaining exclusive Iranian control over the waterway as a red line. Senior lawmaker Ahmad Nabavian warned earlier this month that a draft US-Iran memorandum would bring Oman into the waterway's management, crossing that red line and forcing the IRGC to cede direct control.
**What remains open.** It is not yet clear whether Rezaei's categorical rejection of US friendship reflects a coordinated policy shift or his personal position. No official response has been reported from the United States or Israel as of this bulletin.
7 developments
- StrongKhamenei advisor Rezaei accuses US of escalating tensions in Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingKhamenei advisor warns Trump, Netanyahu crossed Iran's red lines
- StrongRezaei: US will sabotage talks, seeks permanent military control in southern Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingKhamenei advisor: Iran will extend war to Indian Ocean if blockade continues
Source and signal
- Internal intake