Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, issued a stark warning on Sunday following Israel’s deadly strikes on Beirut, declaring that “zero hour has arrived” and suggesting that military preparations are underway.
“A computational error in Beirut exhausted patience, and the order was issued,” Velayati wrote on X. “Zero hour has arrived, and the launchers are preparing.”
Velayati reaffirmed Iran’s support for Hezbollah, describing the Lebanese group as “a vital part of the resistance axis”.
He also warned of potential consequences for global trade if tensions continue to escalate, saying that the strategic waterways of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab could be used to pressure Iran’s adversaries.
“If the fire of mischief in Lebanon is not extinguished, the two powerful geographic arms – Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab – will squeeze your economic lifelines to the point of strategic suffocation,” he said.
The comments come amid heightened regional tensions following Israeli strikes on Beirut and growing uncertainty over a proposed US-Iran agreement that Washington says remains on track despite the latest escalation.
