Ahead of the expected Aug. 24 press conference to announce additional U.S. economic measures against Iran, Iran's hard-line secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, questioned the benefits of adhering to international nuclear norms since doing so in the past did not prevent a U.S. attack, rhetorically asking, "Why shouldn't we pursue nuclear weapons ourselves?" in a televised interview, Iranian media reported on Aug. 23. He also warned that if any country adheres to the additional U.S. sanctions on Iran, it would be seen as an "act of war."