Iran Threatens Economic and Military Retaliation Amid US Sanctions and Strait of Hormuz Blockade

Iran's economy is facing severe strain due to ongoing US sanctions and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to escalate its threats against the United States and Western allies. Iranian officials have warned of expanding the conflict beyond the Middle East, targeting NATO and European Union countries such as Bulgaria.

Ismail Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, asserted Iran's right to respond to any acts of aggression, declaring that any support for US or Israeli military actions against Iran constitutes participation in aggression under international law. Concurrently, Iran is considering withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and openly developing nuclear weapons. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, questioned the treaty's effectiveness amid US hostility and suggested Iran might pursue nuclear armament.

Despite not possessing a nuclear bomb, Iran reportedly has the capability to produce a "dirty bomb." Economically, Iranian officials threaten to completely halt oil tanker movements in the Persian Gulf, which would cause a global energy price surge. Baqaei described Iran's strategic approach as a combination of chess and poker, indicating calculated escalation. Rezaei warned that continued economic warfare would lead Iran to stop all oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, viewing any country's involvement in US sanctions as an act of war warranting a powerful retaliatory response.

Iran may also deploy Houthi forces to attack ships passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, further disrupting global trade by closing two critical maritime chokepoints to the West. These developments mark a significant intensification in Tehran's posture amid heightened tensions with Washington and its allies.