Iranian President Pezeshkian And Iranian Regime Mouthpiece 'Kayhan' Threaten Closure Of Strait Of Hormuz; Senior Regime Official Ali Larijani, Associate Of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, Threatens A
In a speech at the Tehran Dialogue Forum on May 18, 2025, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened to block the passage of oil from the Persian Gulf to the West, in response to the U.S., which, he said, seeks to steal other countries' resources and to foment conflict among the Islamic nations. The next day, on its front page, the regime mouthpiece Kayhan clarified Pezeshkian's statements , saying that he had "threatened the West with closure of the Strait of Hormuz" (see Appendix for additional MEMRI reports on senior Iranian officials' threats to close the Strait of Hormuz).
Senior regime official Mohammad Javad Larijani, an associate of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, threatened attacks on Washington, D.C., and on American bases anywhere from which an attack on Iran originates. He was speaking on the Iranian TV program Special Discussion on May 19, 2025.
The following are the threats against the U.S. by Pezeshkian, Kayhan, and Larijani:
Iranian Regime Mouthpiece Kayhan, May 19, 2025: "[President] Pezeshkian Threatened The West With Closure Of The Strait Of Hormuz"
The Kayhan daily, mouthpiece of the Iranian regime, has in recent years called for acting harshly with the West and the U.S. and for closing the international Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers heading to the West, with the aim of pressuring it, particularly when Iran's demands of the West are not being met as it wishes. The newspaper's headline in its May 19, 2025 edition explained what President Pezeshkian had meant by his statement at the Tehran Dialogue Forum the previous day.
Under the headline "President Pezeshkian Threatens The West With Closure Of The Strait Of Hormuz," Kayhan quoted Pezeshkian as saying: "At this time, if energy resources do not flow from the Persian Gulf to there [i.e. the West], they will be paralyzed." The newspaper went on to explain that Pezeshkian had harshly criticized U.S. policy and its desire to incite conflict among the countries in the region in order to steal their wealth, and that "America seeks to cause us to fight each other." Kayhan added that the U.S. "presents us [Iran] as a threat in order to sell weapons to others" – this against the backdrop of the U.S. weapons agreement with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states the previous week – "that is, on the one hand, it takes our resources, while on the other it takes everything that remains by selling weapons so that there will be nothing left in the region and we will fight each other in a war that it started."[1]
Iranian President Pezeshkian, May 18, 2025: "At This Time, If Energy Resources Do Not Flow From The Persian Gulf To There [i.e. The West], They Will Be Paralyzed"
Asked at the May 18, 2025 Tehran Dialogue Forum "why President Trump is spreading rumors about the region while he is in it," President Pezeshkian replied: "The countries of the region do not accept the fact that America is stealing their resources, and America says this as well. I must say what is happening and what is not. Anyone demonstrating against America is starting a war. At this time, if energy resources do not flow from the Persian Gulf to there [i.e. the West], they will be paralyzed. But they are seeking to incite war among the countries of the region. The people of the region are entitled to enjoy prosperity, [but] America is not allowing growth."[2]
President Pezeshkian at the Tehran Dialogue Forum (Source: Tasnim, Iran, May 18, 2025)
Mohammad Javad Larijani, Former Iranian Judiciary Human Rights Council Secretary, May 19, 2025: "If We Are Attacked, We Will Attack Not Only Washington, But American Interests And Bases Everywhere – In The Air, On The Sea, And On Land, Anywhere From Which An Attack On Iran Originates – Will Be A Legitimate Target For Us"
On May 19, 2025, senior Iranian official Mohammad Javad Larijani, an associate of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, former deputy foreign minister, and former Iranian Judiciary Human Rights Council secretary, and current director of the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, said on the Iranian Special Discussion TV show:
"We ask permission from no one in matters concerning our development. The U.S. has no right to even talk about our nuclear industry. This is what we are doing within the framework of the NPT. [President Trump] says he has doubts [about our nuclear program] – who the hell are you to have doubts? We are not responsible for reassuring you...
Senior Iranian regime official Mohammad Javad Larijani (Source: IRIB, May 20, 2025)
"The NPT is an imaginary document, it is a dead document, but because we signed it, we are committed to it... In my opinion, chances are not high that America will use the military option [against Iran], because [if it does] a long war will begin here, and the victor will not be America. This is not to mention the many [U.S. interests in the region that could be attacked]...
"We have already said that if we are attacked, we will attack not only Washington but also American interests and bases everywhere – in the air, on the sea, and on land, anywhere from which an attack on Iran originates – will be a legitimate target for us."[3]
To view this clip of Larijani's statements on MEMRI TV, click here or below:
Appendix: MEMRI Reports On Iran's Threat To Close Strait Of Hormuz
Special Dispatch No. 10389, Iranian Regime Mouthpiece 'Kayhan' Editor Hossein Shariatmadari: 'Iran Has The Right And The Capability To Close The Strait Of Hormuz... If It Sees That Its National Interests Are In Danger'; 'There Is No Reason For Hostile Countries To Be Allowed Through The Strait, Which Is In Our Territorial Waters', December 21, 2022
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1452, How Will Iran Prevent The Export Of Oil From The Persian Gulf To World Markets? May 6, 2019
Special Dispatch No. 7577, Iranian Regime Again Threatens To Close Strait Of Hormuz – A Threat It Has Made In The Past But Never Carried Out, July 20, 2018
Special Dispatch No. 8752, Iranian Regime: The Entire Persian Gulf Is Our Sea – 'Mare Nostrum' – And Has Belonged To Iran For Centuries; U.S. Forces Must Leave It, May 19, 2020
Special Dispatch No. 8210, Following Iran's Seizure Of British Oil Tanker, Senior Iranian Officials Again Declare: The Persian Gulf Is Iranian Territory; Iran's Armed Forces Are Responsible For Security In It, In Strait Of Hormuz, Gulf Of Oman, August 2, 2019
Special Dispatch No. 4391, Article On Iranian Website: This Is How We'll Close Strait of Hormuz, December 28, 2011
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 615, Iran Demonstrates Its Deterrent Strength in Military Maneuvers, June 14, 2010
Special Dispatch No. 2029, Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz If Attacked, August 19, 2008
Inquiry and Analysis No. 615, Iran Demonstrates Its Deterrent Strength in Military Maneuvers, June 14, 2010
Inquiry and Analysis No. 407, Iran's Response to Western Warnings: "First Strike, "Preemptive Attack," "Long-Range Ballistic Missiles," "Asymmetric [Guerilla] Warfare," December 2, 2007.
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