Iran's security chief claims billions earned despite U.S. blockade

Mohsen Rezaee says Iran sold 70 million barrels of oil over two months and threatens countries joining U.S. economic pressure as negotiations remain stalled

Mohsen Rezaee, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, claimed in a Saturday broadcast that Iran has made billions of dollars and sold millions of barrels of oil despite U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade that has been in place since April. Rezaee stated that Iran sold 70 million barrels of oil in the past two months and continues to sell oil daily, though he did not specify how these sales bypassed the blockade. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports began in April following the collapse of ceasefire talks, part of a broader conflict that started in February when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iranian targets. Rezaee warned other countries not to join what he called the U.S. economic war against Iran, threatening to strike the interests of any nation that participates after initial negotiations. He also said Iran would target alternative oil shipping routes through the Persian Gulf if neighboring states cooperate with Washington. The Strait of Hormuz remains a central point of leverage, with Iran maintaining control over the waterway and the U.S. maintaining pressure through the blockade as negotiations over reopening the strait and ending the broader conflict remain deadlocked.

How could this affect you

Traced by who's actually in the path of this — not everyone is.

Likely

If you track global energy flows or operate shipping in the Gulf

Iran's claim that it continues selling oil during the blockade suggests ongoing shadow-fleet activity and ship-to-ship transfers that could complicate sanctions enforcement and pricing, while Rezaee's threat to target alternative Gulf export routes used by Saudi Arabia and the UAE could expand disruption beyond the Strait of Hormuz

Direct

If you're a Gulf state balancing relations with Washington and Tehran

Rezaee's explicit warning that countries joining U.S. economic pressure will be treated as enemies and have their interests struck puts regional capitals in a public bind: cooperate with Washington's blockade and face direct Iranian threats, or stay neutral and risk U.S. pressure

Possible

If you're modeling Iran's fiscal capacity or negotiation leverage

The claim of billions earned and ongoing daily sales directly contests U.S. estimates that the blockade has cost Iran billions, which could mean Tehran has more runway to sustain its position in negotiations over frozen assets and Strait reopening

Off-Lens

Who is covering this — and who is not.

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Chanakya's Move

Whose move this was, what they're betting on, what could counter it.

This is Tehran signaling endurance, not just to Washington but to regional fence-sitters. Rezaee's message has two audiences: domestically, it counters the narrative that sanctions are crippling Iran; regionally, it warns Gulf states that economic alignment with the U.S. will be treated as a hostile act. The timing matters—it comes as negotiations over frozen assets and the Strait remain deadlocked, and as the U.S. threatens intensified economic pressure. The claim itself is unverifiable but plausible given Iran's documented use of shadow fleets and ship-to-ship transfers. What makes this a strategic move rather than bluster is the explicit threat to expand disruption beyond Hormuz to alternative Gulf routes. That raises the cost for Saudi Arabia and the UAE of participating in U.S. sanctions enforcement, effectively trying to split the regional coalition before Washington escalates further. The counter-move depends on whether Gulf states believe Iran can sustain both the Hormuz standoff and threats to their Red Sea and Omani ports simultaneously, or whether this is overreach from a position of fiscal strain.