Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has warned that the United States could face economic consequences following renewed attacks, saying Washington’s actions had changed Tehran’s approach to its security and defence planning.
According to Middle East Eye, Aref said Iran would respond in an “asymmetrical” and “multi-layered” manner. His remarks indicated that Tehran was reassessing its calculations in light of recent US actions, though the report provided no further details on the form, timing or intended targets of any Iranian response.
“The Americans should start thinking about stockpiling gasoline and fuel. Dark months await the American economy,” Aref wrote on X. The statement linked Iran’s warning to potential pressure on US energy supplies and broader economic conditions, but Aref did not specify how Tehran could seek to bring about those effects.
The Iranian official’s comments followed a statement from US President Donald Trump on Wednesday that Washington could launch an attack against Iran “at any time”. Trump also said he did not expect the latest round of fighting to last for “too long”, according to the Middle East Eye report.
Neither Aref’s comments nor Trump’s statement, as presented in the report, provided a timetable for further military action. Aref did not publicly outline the operational details of the response he described, while Trump left open the possibility of additional US attacks without saying when they might occur.
The exchange added to the heightened rhetoric surrounding the renewed hostilities. Tehran’s warning focused both on a shift in its defence posture and on the prospect of economic costs for the United States, while Washington signalled that further action remained possible. The available statements did not clarify how long the confrontation might continue or what steps either side planned next.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/iran-warns-dark-months-await-us-economy-after-renewed-attacks.