On June 6, Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's Supreme Leader's military advisor, stated in an exclusive interview with CNN that U.S. President Trump "must make decisions independently of Israel."
Rezaei urged "Trump to stop the blockade and unfreeze Iranian assets, which could open a new chapter in future U.S.-Iran relations." He emphasized that "Trump must set aside personal interests and consider the well-being of the American people," adding, "If Trump has the courage, many issues in the future would be easily resolved."
Mohsen Rezaei’s remarks to CNN not only represent a direct response to the current impasse in U.S.-Iran negotiations but also convey multiple complex strategic signals. Considering the broader context, these statements can be interpreted from several dimensions:
Rezaei explicitly demanded that Trump "must make decisions independently of Israel"—a statement directly targeting the core pain points of the current Middle East situation. This indicates that Iran believes part of the current conflict or negotiation deadlock stems from Israeli interference. By publicly addressing Washington, Iran aims to pressure the U.S. into abandoning personal political interests and alliance entanglements, and instead formulate Iran policy based on America’s own national interest.
Rezaei warned that if the U.S. resumes military action, it would "step onto a dark path," even threatening to expand hostilities from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean. This extreme pressure tactic is intended to raise the perceived cost of war for the United States, compelling Washington to compromise.
Although his language was forceful, he simultaneously noted that "the likelihood of restarting war is very low." This suggests Iran does not strongly seek to initiate a large-scale, full-scale war. Its core objective remains using high-pressure posturing to secure concessions at the negotiating table.
Regarding Trump’s recent suggestion of being willing to meet with Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Rezaei rejected it outright, stating plainly, "This will not happen," and placed the blame for stalled negotiations squarely on the White House.
In summary, Rezaei’s statements reflect Iran’s clear-sightedness and firm stance amid today’s complex geopolitical landscape. By drawing red lines, exposing U.S. vulnerabilities, and controlling the pace of negotiations, Iran seeks to force the Trump administration—eager to end overseas conflicts—to choose between "concessions and asset release" versus "getting deeper entrenched in a quagmire."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867433820797952/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.