Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that Iran had “always opposed war” yet would not hesitate to “defend against aggression”, and resist with “full strength” against enemy forces.
He said that Iran had considered “the preservation of the people’s interests and regional security to lie in refraining from igniting conflict,” but would remain the guardian of the rights of the great Iranian nation.”
جمهوری اسلامی ایران همواره با جنگ مخالف بوده و حفظ منافع مردم و امنیت منطقه را در پرهیز از آتش افروزی دانسته است. اما چنانکه تا امروز در برابر تجاوز، دلیرانه به دفاع برخاسته است این مقاومت را تا پشیمانی کامل متجاوزان با قوت ادامه خواهد داد و پاسدار حقوق ملت بزرگ ایران خواهد بود.
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) September 8, 2026
His comments come as Tehran announced new measures to seal off the strait, saying it would soon unveil details of a “maritime exclusion zone” that would extend from the perimeter of the US blockade, through the strait and into the Gulf itself.
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Washington fired at Iranian tankers over the weekend in retaliation for Iranian fire at US warships. Iran said it had used new, more capable ballistic missiles to attack American ships.
“In recent days, Washington has received a clear warning from Iran’s new missiles,” Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on X. “Economic warfare will be met by a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf to the blockade perimeter. The operational posture toward US warships and bases has been fundamentally recalibrated.”
Iran still possesses missiles and drones that can threaten oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and have been used to attack US military bases scattered throughout the region.
In a separate message, acting Defence Minister Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Ibn al-Reza said the country was capable of targeting US warships involved in enforcing economic blockades, according to IRNA.
In remarks on Monday, Ibn‑al‑Reza said the ministry is pursuing the four‑year program prepared by martyr Major General Pilot Aziz Nasirzadeh and submitted to Parliament with the same approach.
The military official noted that Iran possesses the capability to strike US warships involved in economic pressure and that the results would become evident.
