Mohsen Rezaei Meets Mojtaba Khamenei Amid Regional Tensions and Possible US Strikes
Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei met Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who stressed tighter management of the Strait of Hormuz and affirmed Iran's conditions to end the "neither war nor peace" state, while sources say possible US strikes could follow the midterm elections.
Amid regional and international anticipation over the trajectory of tensions between Tehran and Washington, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei met with Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to a statement issued by Khamenei’s office on Tuesday.
The statement said the Leader stressed during the meeting the need to firmly manage the Strait of Hormuz, while at the same time stressing the importance of maintaining relations with neighboring countries on the basis of mutual interests.
Khamenei also affirmed what he described as the necessity of achieving Iran’s conditions to end the state of "neither war nor peace," in reference to Tehran’s stance on regional relations and maritime security.
The meeting came in the context of a diplomatic stalemate between Tehran and Washington, with both sides holding to their positions, notably regarding the issue of reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
It also followed Tehran’s hosting on Monday of a regional meeting that included representatives of the three parties to the Mecca defense agreement: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan; that meeting was described as positive.
Separately, several US officials and informed sources said a new round of strikes on Iranian sites has become imminent, with expectations that they could begin after the midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
Tehran, for its part, threatened an "unexpected" response to any US or Israeli attack, warning it could expand the scope of its targets to include new US bases and interests in the region, and even undersea internet cables.
