Iran’s Mohsen Rezaei Warns Trump Is ‘Betraying Diplomacy for Third Time’

A senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a sharp public warning against US President Donald Trump, accusing him of abandoning the path of diplomacy in favour of military confrontation for the third consecutive time, as Washington’s continued naval blockade and escalating negotiating demands place the fragile US-Iran ceasefire process under severe strain.

Mohsen Rezaei, a close advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and former commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), posted the warning on his X account on Saturday, writing directly:

Rezaei elaborated on the nature of the betrayal, pointing to two specific actions by the Trump administration that he said have exposed the president’s true intentions:

The warning carries particular weight given Rezaei’s background. In a previous interview with China’s CGTN network, he had drawn a clear red line on the blockade issue, stating that Iran

Rezaei had also previously cautioned that the United States has no viable alternative to returning to the negotiating table, warning that prolonging the war would drive Washington into a crisis from which there is no easy exit.

he said — a statement that underscored Iran’s confidence in its intelligence and strategic positioning despite the ongoing pressure.

The context for these warnings lies in a series of escalatory actions by the Trump administration. Iran tightened its control over the strategic maritime corridor — effectively closing it to hostile naval traffic — as a direct response to what Tehran describes as unprovoked aggression by the United States and Israel. The controls were further intensified after Trump announced on April 13 the continuation of an illegal naval blockade targeting Iranian vessels and ports, a move Tehran says directly violated the terms of the ceasefire Trump himself had declared earlier that month.

Despite the deteriorating atmosphere, both sides continue to hold intermittent talks aimed at reaching a permanent end to the conflict — though analysts say the window for a negotiated settlement is narrowing with each passing week.