Iran’s Rezaei accuses CENTCOM chief of directing oil-smuggling in Hormuz with UAE military, warns regional U.S.-linked infrastructure could be targeted if war resumes

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper of directing oil-smuggling operations in the Strait of Hormuz with the UAE military, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Rezaei’s interview with Iran’s Press TV over the weekend. The United States and the UAE had not immediately commented on the allegation, Anadolu reported.

Rezaei said the operation used five or six small boats to transfer oil to larger tankers, and that Iranian forces had been striking five or six vessels involved each night. He also warned that, if fighting with the United States resumes, Iran could target regional cables, data centers, artificial-intelligence facilities and other sites. He put the infrastructure’s value at more than $2 trillion and said Iran was prepared to deploy additional military capabilities if war broke out again.

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June concerning freedom of navigation through the strait, but implementation stalled amid disagreements over security there, Anadolu reported.