Tehran – Beirut: Europe and the Arabs

The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that any country participating in imposing economic sanctions on Iran would be considered an “enemy,” threatening to escalate the situation to include the Gulf region.

In remarks to Iranian state television, Rezaei addressed countries in the region and the world, saying, “Do not join the economic war being waged by the United States.” He threatened to close the Persian Gulf, similar to the Strait of Hormuz, and prevent the passage of “a single drop of oil” from the region if regional countries support Washington in its economic war against Iran.

The Iranian official accused President Donald Trump of pursuing “reckless policies,” arguing that they have contributed to the increased desire for nuclear weapons worldwide. This was reported by the Brussels-based European news network Euronews on Sunday morning.

For its part, the Iranian Ministry of Defense confirmed that its new military systems are now operational, stating, “What the enemy has seen on the battlefield is only a part of our capabilities, and what they have yet to see is far greater.” In contrast, Trump stated in a post on the Truth Social platform that the United States had escorted more than a thousand ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that his country continues to withstand US sanctions, emphasizing that Tehran is making efforts to cope with what he described as an "asymmetric war."

Pezeshkian said that the United States insists it is imposing the harshest sanctions on Iran, adding that despite this, his country continues to persevere and work to counter the pressures imposed upon it.

He pointed out that Iran's adversaries had been betting on the country's collapse, imagining it would become a model similar to Venezuela. However, he said, Iran has demonstrated a degree of resilience and cohesion that has made it a force that has astonished the world.

The Iranian President pledges to address the economic crisis

Pezeshkian addressed the economic and living conditions facing Iranian citizens, expressing his hope that his country will be able to overcome the current crises and address the challenges related to the livelihoods of its citizens. The Iranian president's remarks come amid continued US sanctions and economic pressure on Tehran, which pose significant challenges to the Iranian economy and living conditions.

In Lebanon, Israel continued its attacks on the south of the country on Saturday, launching airstrikes and carrying out widespread bombings targeting homes and infrastructure. This coincided with artillery shelling, which the Lebanese National News Agency reported included the use of phosphorus shells. Israeli drones also flew over Beirut's southern suburbs.

These attacks targeted areas in the districts of Bint Jbeil, Tyre, Nabatieh, and Marjeyoun, according to the National News Agency. In the latest developments, Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike on the town of Sarbin in the Bint Jbeil district on Saturday evening, following two earlier airstrikes in the afternoon on the area between the towns of Sarbin and Rashaf.