Ali Akbar Velayati, senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, issued a statement Wednesday evening threatening that 'zero hour has arrived' and launchers are being prepared. Velayati warned that if fighting in Lebanon continues, Iran would close the strategic straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb to 'suffocate' Israel's economy. The statement is a significant rhetorical escalation, reported with ongoing diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran.
At 23:05 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported a statement by Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, warning that 'zero hour has arrived' and that launchers are being prepared. Over subsequent versions published at the same minute, the threat was successively attributed to an adviser of Iraqi cleric Moghtada al-Sadr, then re-attributed to Velayati, with the explicit warning to close the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb added by version 5. The statement has been reported throughout from a single Iranian source and remains unverified by independent channels.
By 23:27 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published a fuller account noting that the initial statement was circulated via Iranian state media and treated as a significant rhetorical escalation. The updated version now amplified by Velayati includes the 'zero hour' language and the straits-closure threat. High GPS jamming has been confirmed across much of Israel. The U.S. is engaged in diplomatic efforts: per a CNN report citing a diplomat, Qatari negotiators remain in Tehran coordinating with Washington to preserve framework talks. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump reportedly spoke earlier tonight; the Prime Minister's Office denied reports that Netanyahu sought an urgent meeting with Trump, calling them 'fake news.' Ynet reports that Trump may be preparing to lift the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports to prevent an Iranian attack on Israel.
As The Zioneer reported earlier, Iran recently rejected Trump's claim of an imminent deal and halted negotiations (published 21:35 Jerusalem). The Velayati threat follows that diplomatic rupture, tying the situation in Lebanon to a potential broader confrontation. The IDF confirmed one soldier moderately wounded and another lightly wounded by Hezbollah rocket fire in southern Lebanon earlier today. The security cabinet meeting that ended earlier was a significant venue for Israeli decision-makers weighing their next steps.
The threat remains a single-source claim, with no independent corroboration from Israeli, U.S., or other intelligence channels. It is unclear whether the statement reflects an operational decision or is a deliberate rhetorical escalation meant to pressure negotiators. The status of U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks — reported to be ongoing via Qatari intermediaries — adds an unresolved layer to the credibility and intent of the warning.
7 developments
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- StrongIran reportedly closes Strait of Hormuz as IDF braces for multi-day fighting
Source and signal
- Internal intake