Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Iran Warns of Severe US Confrontation, Threatens Netanyahu
Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei warned that Iran could have a much bigger fight with the United States if a blockade continues.
He said Iran might target American economic interests in the region.
Rezaei also made a personal threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He said a future conflict with Israel would be different from earlier conflicts.
He called Dahiyeh and Beirut important red lines for Iran.
Rezaei claimed Iran sold between 70 million and 80 million barrels of oil during a ceasefire.
The United States has responded with new sanctions against people, companies and ships linked to Iran.
U.S. officials said negotiations with Iran are not currently happening.
President Donald Trump said he has no deadline for Iran to return to talks.
Mohsen Rezaei warned of a severe confrontation with the United States if the blockade against Iran continues.
Rezaei threatened to send Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to hell” and said any renewed conflict would enter a new phase.
He described Dahiyeh and Beirut as Iranian red lines and said Israel would be forced to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory.
Rezaei claimed Iran exported between 70 million and 80 million barrels of oil during the ceasefire despite the blockade.
Washington said talks with Tehran were not occurring and announced sanctions against nearly 60 Iran-linked entities, individuals and vessels.
- Who
- Mohsen Rezaei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt and other U.S. officials.
- What
- Rezaei issued warnings and threats involving Iran, the United States and Israel, while Washington expanded sanctions and said negotiations were paused.
- When
- Rezaei’s comments were made in an interview; the latest U.S. sanctions were announced on August 24.
- Where
- The interview was with Al-Manar and was reported by Iran’s IRIB; the warnings concerned Iran, Israel, Lebanon and U.S. interests in the region.
- Why
- Rezaei said continued blockade and economic pressure would prompt Iranian countermeasures. Washington said its sanctions were intended to increase pressure on Iran.
Iranian warnings and claims
U.S.-Israeli pressure and response
Economic pressure
Iranian warnings and claims
Rezaei said the shift from military action to economic pressure demonstrated the futility of military strikes and warned that Iran would target U.S. economic interests if pressure escalated.
U.S.-Israeli pressure and response
Washington said it was intensifying economic pressure through sanctions and its “Operation Economic Outcast” campaign.
Military confrontation
Iranian warnings and claims
Rezaei warned that continuing the blockade could produce a severe confrontation with the United States and said any renewed conflict with Israel would enter a different phase.
U.S.-Israeli pressure and response
The White House said Trump was keeping all options available, while Trump said both economic measures and military strikes were effective.
Diplomatic talks
Iranian warnings and claims
Rezaei’s comments focused on Iranian countermeasures against continued pressure and did not describe active negotiations.
U.S.-Israeli pressure and response
Karoline Leavitt said no negotiations were taking place and that talks would not resume until Iran returned to the table meaningfully; Trump said he had no deadline for talks.
Alleged assassination report
Iranian warnings and claims
Rezaei alleged that Netanyahu spread false information about an Iranian plot involving Donald Trump, claiming it affected Trump’s decision-making. One report referred to an alleged plot against Trump’s son, while the quoted statement referred to Trump himself.
U.S.-Israeli pressure and response
The provided articles report Netanyahu’s public support for the latest U.S. sanctions but do not provide a response from him to Rezaei’s allegation.
- Iranian official
- Mohsen Rezaei is Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
- Threat against Netanyahu
- Rezaei said Tehran would “send Benjamin Netanyahu ... to hell.”
- Claimed oil exports
- Rezaei said Iran exported approximately 70 million to 80 million barrels during the ceasefire period.
- Iranian red lines
- Rezaei identified Dahiyeh and Beirut as Iran’s red lines.
- U.S. sanctions
- The United States announced sanctions against nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels allegedly linked to Iran’s military, procurement and petroleum networks.
- Negotiations
- U.S. officials said negotiations between Washington and Tehran were not currently taking place.
- Trump’s position
- Donald Trump said he had no fixed timeline for Iran to return to negotiations and was not in a hurry.
