Mohsen Rezaei: Iran Serious in Negotiations, Even More Serious in War and Defense
Senior Iranian commander says Trump traveled to Beijing from a position of weakness and warns that any renewed aggression could turn the Sea of Oman into a graveyard for U.S. warships.
Tehran, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Major General Mohsen Rezaei declared that the Islamic Republic is fully committed to diplomacy but remains even more determined to defend the country militarily, stressing that Washington must first take concrete steps before any progress can be made in negotiations.
“We are serious in negotiations, and even more serious in war and in defending Iran,” Rezaei said during an interview on Iranian state television, according to Tasnim News Agency.
The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the United States has repeatedly violated its commitments and no longer enjoys either domestic or international legitimacy.
Trump Went to Beijing From a Position of Weakness
Rezaei said Donald Trump’s recent trip to Beijing took place under the worst strategic conditions facing the United States.
According to Rezaei, Trump had hoped to arrive in China holding the upper hand, but the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran forced him to negotiate from a position of weakness.
He noted that Trump publicly claimed China agrees that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons, even though Tehran itself has consistently stated that it neither seeks nor possesses such weapons, a position reinforced by the fatwa of Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei and confirmed by international monitoring bodies.
Rezaei also said Trump’s remarks about China supporting the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz were misleading.
“Iran says the Strait is open for trade but closed to military deployments and war,” he said, arguing that China’s actual position is consistent with Tehran’s.
U.S. Made Major Concessions to China
Rezaei said Washington effectively handed significant concessions to China in exchange for what Trump portrayed as diplomatic achievements.
These concessions included reducing tariffs, accepting China’s continued purchases of Iranian oil, and remaining silent regarding China’s warnings over Taiwan.
From both tactical and technical perspectives, Rezaei said, the outcome represented a clear defeat for the United States.
He added that the broader strategic consequence was even more significant: the world now sees that the United States needs China and no longer holds the dominant position.
U.S. Attack on Iran Shook the Global Economy
Rezaei described the U.S. assault on Iran as a reckless and criminal act whose consequences have spread across the world, from the United States and Europe to East Asia.
He said the continuation of maritime pressure and military tension in the Strait of Hormuz is inflicting severe damage on the global economy and energy markets.
According to Rezaei, Iran has shown restraint, but that patience should not be interpreted as acceptance.
“I advise the U.S. military to withdraw before the Sea of Oman becomes a graveyard for its warships,” he warned.
Warning to the UAE
Rezaei also issued a sharp warning to the United Arab Emirates, saying Abu Dhabi has made a grave mistake by aligning itself with the Zionist regime.
He said the UAE is allowing itself to become entangled in Israel’s regional agenda and warned that Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to drag the Emirates into a direct confrontation with Iran in order to prove to Trump that Israel is not isolated.
Rezaei stressed that Iran has not closed the door to friendship with the UAE, but added that Tehran’s patience has limits.
Trump Faces a Crisis of Legitimacy
Rezaei argued that Trump lacks legal, political, and popular legitimacy.
He noted that the U.S. president failed to secure congressional authorization for war and has not received meaningful support from NATO or Washington’s traditional allies.
Anti-Iran resolutions, he added, have also failed to gain international backing.
According to Rezaei, Trump has moved from ambitions of regime change and partitioning Iran to merely trying to justify his actions as efforts to support Israel and keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Iran Demands Concrete Action
Rezaei emphasized that Tehran insists Washington must take practical steps before negotiations can move forward.
He recalled that Iran has repeatedly negotiated and reached agreements with the United States, only to see Washington violate its commitments each time.
Addressing the Iranian people, Rezaei said the country remains committed to diplomacy, but enemies must understand that Iran is even more resolute on the battlefield.
A Historic Opportunity for Iran
Concluding his remarks, Rezaei described the current moment as a major strategic opportunity for Iran.
He said the resistance and unity shown by the Iranian people and armed forces have exposed that the hostility of the United States and the Zionist regime is directed against Iran itself, not merely against the Islamic Republic.
“As a soldier, I say that we must seize this great opportunity that has emerged for Iran,” Rezaei said, adding that the support of Imam Mahdi (aj) and the energetic leadership of Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei continue to guide the nation forward. (PW)