Iran updates: Iran officials push back against Trump's 'economic D-Day' threat

Iran's state broadcaster aired an extensive interview Saturday with the country's security chief, who talked about the war with the U.S., the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, economic consequences, nuclear weapons and the potential for a wider regional conflict.

"Trump's stupidity by attacking Iran increased the world's desire for the atomic bomb, especially when they saw that membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency and the [Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty] was ineffective in preventing an American attack," Mohsen Rezaei, the former commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said in the interview.

"Trump has created nuclear insecurity instead of nuclear security," Rezaei said.

Rezaei insisted the Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite Trump's claims.

"We are not looking to expand the war, but if the countries surrounding Iran join the Americans in the economic war, we will harm their interests," Rezaei said.

"If the countries surrounding Iran join the Americans in the economic war, not a drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and we will also target other routes through which oil is exported from the Persian Gulf," Rezaei said.

Neighboring countries have sent Iran "numerous messages" about creating new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Saturday.

Ghalibaf said the U.S. put the security of all its allies at risk "for the sake of Israel."

Ghalibaf, who is also Iran's chief negotiator, said, "A homegrown, independent order is what will actually deliver peace and security."

IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohsen Mohebbi says Iran has upgraded its military capabilities, warning that any future war could see the use of more destructive weapons.

"The warheads used in Iran’s missiles are far more destructive than those used in previous wars. Iran’s weapons would be 'completely different' in all respects if another war begins," Mohebbi said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that if President Donald Trump decides to impose "maximum economic pressure" on Iran, military strikes would likely not restart.

"If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,” Bessent said.

"I think oil markets are misinterpreting what this economic pressure means," he later added. "The economic pressure means that we are going to all of our allies, and this is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world."

Bessent threatened that the federal government will impose "its full might and force" against those that continue to do business with Iran.

"We are going to them and saying, you’re either with us or against us. You want this murderous regime to end. And if you insist on doing business with them, either transferring money, buying their oil, they're doing seaborne ship transport first, then the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. government, they will put its full might and force toward enforcing against you,” Bessent said.

Pressed on if the accountability will apply to China as well, Bessent dodged, saying those conversations are better left private.

"Again, many conversations are best to have in private, and we are confident that everyone wants the strait reopened and for energy prices to come back down," he said.