Tehran:Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, has issued a warning that any action against Iran will incur a cost. In a recent interview, he emphasized Iran's stance on the strategic management of the Strait of Hormuz, which is seen as a critical national asset.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Rezaei elaborated on Iran's preference for diplomacy in managing the Strait of Hormuz but made it clear that the nation is prepared to respond if conflicts persist. He highlighted the importance of security and the collection of charges for security, insurance, and environmental costs related to managing the strait. Rezaei stressed that Iran will continue to manage the strait to maintain regional peace and security.

Rezaei also addressed the failed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), attributing its failure to the improper implementation of commitments by the other party, leading to an imbalance of leverage after the United States achieved its immediate needs. He declared that Iran would not return to previous diplomatic approaches but would not abandon diplomacy altogether. Seven new conditions have been proposed by Iran, and until these are met, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, and negotiations will not resume.

On the topic of the Persian Gulf region, Rezaei mentioned ongoing talks with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council countries about establishing a regional security architecture. He emphasized that the security of the Persian Gulf cannot be indefinitely outsourced and that all regional countries have a vested interest in its security.

Regarding Iran's missile and drone capabilities, Rezaei assured that Iran has invested in building redundancy and sustaining production, enabling it to continue deploying these capabilities even in prolonged conflicts. This demonstrates Iran's capacity to impose costs on adversaries even months into a conflict.