Tehran’s Hormuz threats expose regime panic amid rial collapse, fuel smuggling and fears of uprising
Amid the economic war announced by the Trump administration on Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei's senior aide Mohsen Rezaie has renewed threats against all Gulf oil exporters even as a former official has admitted Tehran is bracing for "internal unrest" and a potential uprising "in the coming weeks" fuelled by corruption within the regime. Newly-appointed Iranian national security adviser Mohsen Rezaie has…
Tehran's recent threats against Gulf oil exporters have raised concerns about the regime's desperation amid the collapse of the Iranian rial and the potential for internal unrest or an uprising. Senior aide Mohsen Rezaie warned that not a single drop of oil would be exported if the economic war with the United States persists, and that Iran would view any support for these sanctions as an act of war.
The country's currency has plummeted to a record low of $1:2 million rials per US dollar, and the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route, has become increasingly contested. According to a senior government official, both major political factions are involved in fuel smuggling networks, which drain heavily subsidized fuel from the domestic market.
Estimates suggest that between 20 million and 30 million liters of fuel are smuggled out of Iran daily, highlighting the scale of the trade and its impact on the government's finances. Regime insiders warn that the combination of hyperinflation, fuel smuggling, and international sanctions could lead to widespread unrest and potentially even a war in the coming weeks.
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