Iran says US resorting to oil smuggling in Strait of Hormuz
Security official Mohsen Rezaei accuses CENTCOM chief of coordinating operations with UAE forces and warns of strikes on US-linked technology infrastructure if war resumes
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — A senior Iranian security official has accused the head of U.S. Central Command of coordinating oil-smuggling operations in the Strait of Hormuz with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates military, while warning that Iran could target U.S.-linked technology infrastructure in the region if hostilities resume.
Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Adm. Brad Cooper was directing the operations, in which five or six small boats allegedly transfer oil to larger tankers.
Iranian forces have been striking five or six vessels involved in the operations each night over the past two or three months, Rezaei said in an interview with Iranian state-run Press TV over the weekend.
There was no immediate comment from the United States or the UAE on the allegations.
Rezaei rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that the strategic waterway was open, insisting that Iran remained in control of the route.
“From now on, therefore, we will maintain control over the management of the Strait of Hormuz. It will remain under our management to ensure peace and security in the region. We will not back down on this issue,” he said.
He said maritime traffic through the strait remained far below prewar levels and accused Washington and its regional allies of using smuggling networks to move oil through the waterway.
Iran closed the vital chokepoint following the launch of the latest U.S.-Israeli military campaign against the country on Feb. 28. Tehran has said maritime traffic will not return to normal unless Washington ends the war and lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran has warned that if the war continues, “not even one drop of oil will be exported” through the Strait of Hormuz or anywhere else in the Persian Gulf.
Iran warns of strikes on technology infrastructure
Rezaei warned that Iran could target U.S.-linked technology infrastructure across the region if the United States attacks the country again.
“We have not yet included these assets among our targets. But if war breaks out, many of these cables, data centers, artificial intelligence facilities and numerous other sites will be destroyed,” he said.
He estimated the value of the infrastructure at more than $2 trillion.
The Iranian official also said Tehran was prepared to deploy additional military capabilities if hostilities resumed.
“Today, we are fully prepared to introduce new capabilities if the war starts again,” he said.
Rezaei rejects US concessions on Iran’s conditions
In separate remarks, Rezaei dismissed Washington’s partial concessions on Iran’s seven conditions for resolving the conflict as inadequate.
In a post on X, he acknowledged that the United States had agreed to some of Tehran’s demands but said its response fell short of what Iran required.
“Iranian diplomacy has changed, and there will be no return to the status quo ante,” he said, signaling that Tehran would insist on full compliance rather than accept partial concessions.
In a second post, Rezaei accused Trump of launching the war after being misled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump, “deluded by the fantasy of conquering Iran, launched one of the most idiotic wars in human history after being duped by Netanyahu,” Rezaei wrote.
He also accused Washington of resorting to smuggling after failing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz through military means.
“Now, after the U.S. fleet failed to reopen the Hormuz, he has resorted to smuggling,” Rezaei wrote, adding that “the US military has never sunk to such a disgraceful low!”
Dispute over maritime arrangements
The accusations come amid a dispute over the implementation of an Islamabad memorandum of understanding intended to establish a framework for halting the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
Under the agreement, Washington committed to lifting its naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and ceasing military operations in exchange for the phased normalization of maritime traffic, according to the account of the agreement provided in the report.
The arrangement also stipulated that commercial transit through the strait would be coordinated with and approved by Iran.
Iranian officials have accused the United States of attempting to move commercial vessels through the waterway without coordinating with Tehran. Iranian forces have intercepted vessels they consider unauthorized, according to the account.
The United States and Iran signed the memorandum in June, but implementation stalled over disagreements concerning security arrangements in the strategic waterway.
Tehran maintains that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under its control until Washington fully implements Iran’s seven conditions.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
