Mohsen Rezaee Threatens To Target Countries Joining Donald Trump’s New Iran Sanctions

Tehran witnessed a rise in conflicting statements reflecting the divergence of Iranian leadership positions on the eve of the announcement of a new set of American sanctions against Iran. Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaee threatened to target countries participating in the sanctions, warning U.S. President Donald Trump and neighboring states not to engage in an economic war with Washington. In a interview with the Iranian channel Tasnim, Rezaee explained that Iran would respond with enormous force if Trump takes any step, stressing that his country does not seek to widen the scope of war, but would consider any neighboring country participating in the sanctions an enemy, and would not allow a single drop of oil to leave the Gulf and the Hormuz Strait if those countries join Washington. On the other hand, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi opened the door to a political path, stressing the importance of returning to the memorandum of understanding with the United States to end the ongoing state of "no war, no peace" that has persisted for six months. Raisi affirmed that the agreement represents the best possible option for Iran, taking into account dignity and national interest, denying any clause amounting to surrender. He noted that the Supreme Leader determines policies, and that the government will follow this path, pointing out that the troubled economic situation prevents attracting investment, and that capital is risk-averse, which necessitates removing these challenges. The conflicting statements reflect a split within the Iranian leadership on how to deal with U.S. pressure. In the same vein, Ismail Baqayi, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, announced that Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir will visit Tehran on Monday to continue efforts to promote peace and security in the region, amid American threats to impose harsher sanctions.

Skip to content Newsletter Subscribe follow us: Home‹Economy‹News Economy Brent crude falls 2% to $92.5 as US pressure on Iran looms Oil prices retreat after two weeks of gains amid concerns of upcoming US pressure on Iran Editorial team Editorial team Published Monday, August 24, 2026 · 1:43 PM Brent crude falls 2% to $92.5 as US pressure on Iran looms Executive Summary AI Brent crude prices slipped 2% to $92.5 per barrel. Investors await a statement from US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen about a new campaign to tighten economic pressure on Iran. The US campaign will target buyers and shippers of Iranian oil, money exchangers networks, banks, shipping companies, and brokers. The expected tightening of sanctions could raise risks to Middle East oil supplies. Brent prices declined 2% to $92.5 per barrel, as investors continued to take profits after two consecutive weeks of gains, ahead of a forthcoming US announcement on hardening economic pressure on Iran. Investors also await a press conference by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at 2:00 PM Eastern Time (18:00 GMT), where she pledged to reveal details of a new campaign aimed at further isolating Iran economically. Follow the story: Oil prices fall 1% before US announces new sanctions on Iran In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Yellen explained that the US campaign will target entities that buy or transport Iranian oil, as well as money exchange networks, banks, shipping firms, and intermediaries who help Iran access and transfer its revenues. Analysts say tougher sanctions could heighten risks to Middle East oil supplies, affecting prices in global markets. Discuss this news with AI News highlights Location: United StatesLocation: IranLocation: Middle EastFinance: Financial TimesKey figure: Janet Yellen

Topic:Economic Sanctions Masoud Pezeshkian says he is trying to prevent the "many problems" brought by fresh economic sanctions.(Iranian Presidency Handout/Anadolu) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says his country faces "many problems" from fresh sanctions imposed by the United States. Mr Pezeshkian says US President Donald Trump is staging "a full-scale economic, military and security war" against Iran. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will reveal the full details of the economic measures to be imposed on Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian admits his country's citizens face "many problems", after the United States launched a new wave of sanctions seeking to further isolate its economy. "I understand we have many problems in society right now. We are trying to prevent these as much as we can," Mr Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state television on Sunday. His comments came after the US vowed last week to bring about the "collapse" of the Iranian regime through a newly announced sanctions campaign, nearly six months after the start of their war. In his response, Mr Pezeshkian said that, because of US President Donald Trump, Iran was "in a full-scale economic, military and security war". People at the Grand Bazaar in Tehran where prices are likely to rise due to sanctions.(Reuters: Majid Asgaripour/WANA) The Iranian government has faced several waves of mass protest in recent years. Three Iranians have shared their insights on life under the regime, as the war passes its fifth month. They have often been triggered by economic hardships, including inflation and exchange rate swings, leading to declining purchasing power. At the end of last year, a protest movement initially sparked by the rising cost of living turned into mass demonstrations denouncing those in power. Authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths during the unrest, accusing the US and Israel of orchestrating the violence. Foreign-based NGOs, however, said officials had launched an indiscriminate crackdown that left thousands dead. Scott Bessent will go into detail about the new sanctions against Iran on Monday.(AP: Matt Rourke) "We are striving with all our hearts to overcome inflation, livelihood problems, unemployment, and to secure the future of the people, so that they can live with dignity and pride," Mr Pezeshkian said on Sunday. Since the war began on February 28, 3,636 people have reportedly died in Iran, with 2,100 estimated to be civilian deaths. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will host a media conference to outline the exact details of the economic measures to be imposed on Iran. AFP/ABC See more ABC coverage in your search results Topic:Lobbying Topic:Crime Topic:AI Analysis by Patricia Karvelas Topic:Currency Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War Topic:World Politics Topic:War Economic Sanctions Iran, Islamic Republic Of United States War World Politics Topic:Lobbying Topic:Crime Topic:AI Analysis by Patricia Karvelas Topic:Currency Topic:Housing Policy Topic:Water Supply Topic:Animals Topic:Accidents and Emergency Incidents Topic:Lobbying Topic:Crime Topic:AI Analysis by Patricia Karvelas Topic:Currency Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War Topic:World Politics Topic:War Topic:Lobbying Topic:Crime Topic:AI Analysis by Patricia Karvelas Topic:Currency Topic:Housing Policy Topic:Water Supply Topic:Animals Topic:Accidents and Emergency Incidents

Iran threatens countries that join US ‘economic D-Day’ Iran has threatened to retaliate against any country that joins the United States’ “economic war” against it, as Egypt pressed Tehran and Washington to “return to the diplomatic path” and end their nearly six-month-old conflict. The warning from Iran’s top security official on Saturday came as the US plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on Tehran’s economy. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Iranian president says time to end war with US from ‘position of strength’ - list 2 of 3Iran says new US sanctions violate sovereignty of other states - list 3 of 3Iran grants permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through Hormuz Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told the IRIB state broadcaster that Iran was appealing to all countries around the world, including its neighbours, not to join the US’s “economic war”. “Any country that takes part in imposing economic restrictions on us will be regarded as an enemy,” he said, warning of a “seismic” retaliation. Rezaei described Iran’s strategy as a three-stage sequence starting with talks to de-escalate tensions. “Of course, we will first negotiate with them. We will hold talks and tell them to step aside and distance themselves from the United States. But if they do not act, we will strike. We will target that country’s interests,” he said. Rezaei’s remarks came days after US President Donald Trump announced that his government would undertake the “most crushing economic operation” yet against Iran. He also pledged “tremendous economic consequences” for any country that gives Iran “any type of lifeline”. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed his threats the following day, saying, “You’re either with us or against us.” He also urged cooperation from China, which buys more than 80 percent of Iran’s shipped oil. Bessent is due to give details of the planned sanctions on Monday. Stalled talks Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier on Saturday the imminent US announcement of new economic sanctions was an “assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent member state of the United Nations”. “Such secondary sanctions find no foundation in international law,” he said in a post on X. The tensions came as diplomatic efforts to end the war remained stalled and traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the major shipping lane that Iran has blockaded, remained effectively halted. Iran closed the strait shortly after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on February 28, sending the price of commodities like oil and fertiliser skyrocketing. On Saturday, Iran’s government news service, IRNA, announced that special permission had been issued for Iraqi oil tankers to transit the strait. However, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reported that the situation in the strait “remains vague”, with Iran saying it will keep it closed until a US naval blockade on the country is lifted. He said talks between Iran and Oman on managing shipping in the waterway were also continuing. “But so far, no deal has been reached,” Asadi said. Separately, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi spoke over the phone and reviewed the overall situation in the region as well as ongoing efforts “to create an environment conducive to de-escalation”. It added that the two also discussed a “return to the diplomatic path – whether regarding the negotiation track between Oman and Iran or the resumption of the implementation of the US-Iran memorandum with the ultimate goal of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement that addresses various concerns and enhances regional security and stability”. Araghchi briefed Egypt’s foreign minister about “Iran’s view of ongoing developments, the course of negotiations and their challenges”, the ministry said, without elaborating. Araghchi confirmed the call. He also said he had a call with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and spoke about “effective solutions to strengthen peace, stability and security in the West Asian region”.

Tehran, Iran – The Iranian government is preparing the public for another increase in fuel prices as it attempts to buoy the country’s ailing economy. With the United States’ siege of Iran’s seaports and the economic impact of the war continuing, the offer of heavily subsidised fuel to the country’s 93 million population is a burden that the government is struggling to afford. Recommended Stories list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Can Iran retaliate against countries that join US ‘economic war’? - list 2 of 4What did war with the US reveal about Iran’s weapons capabilities? - list 3 of 4Iran grants permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through Hormuz - list 4 of 4Israel, Turkiye and the post-Abrahamic Middle East The International Monetary Fund predicts that Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP) will contract by 5.4 percent in 2026. Hiking the price of petrol in this oil-rich country has already sparked unrest before, including nationwide demonstrations in 2019. Such measures also preceded the January 2026 protests by several weeks. So authorities are treading carefully, with a final decision expected over the coming weeks. “I understand that we have many problems in society now. We are doing our best so the people are not afflicted, but the enemy is doing its absolute best so we won’t succeed,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said during a speech on Sunday morning, alluding to the six-month US-Israel war on Iran. After US President Donald Trump threatened to target Iran with the “most crushing economic operation” ever undertaken against any country, the Iranian rial hit a new all-time low of 2 million rials per the US dollar in Tehran’s open market on Sunday afternoon. On Friday, Pezeshkian noted that the price of fuel in Iran is considerably lower than in most countries in the world. He said his administration pays 1.3 million rials (65 US cents at the current rate) per litre of petrol produced by refineries. The lowest price tier offered to the population is 15,000 rials (less than 1 cent) per litre (0.26 gallons). Two other price categories for personal vehicle use – one at 30,000 rials (1.5 cents) per litre and the third at 50,000 rials (2.5 cents) – are also eating into the government’s finances. Meanwhile, Iranians with imported, free-zone or newly registered vehicles are liable for the highest-price tier. Still, there are limits to the amount of subsidised fuel Iranians can purchase, with each category having its own monthly quota, and sales are only allowed with a fuel card. Pump stations have their own cards that offer some extra fuel at the highest-price category, but with a single-use limit of 25 litres in Tehran. The quota for the cheapest category is 60 litres. From the start of the current calendar year in late March, authorities cut the quota for the second category from 100 to 70 litres. After two weeks of fighting between Iran and the US erupted again in July over the Strait of Hormuz, this allowance was cut again to 50 litres. Iranians now consume roughly 135 million litres per day of fuel, with authorities saying earlier this month that production was at about 121 million litres per day. To compensate for these financial losses, the government has attempted to increase refinery production, used petrochemical products, and reduced the quality of fuel by diluting it. Fuel imports have also stopped due to the war. Three undesirable options The government’s head of energy optimisation, Esmail Saghab-Esfahani, told state television last week that there are three options – each with their own complexities. One option, he explained, is a first-come, first-served mechanism whereby prices would remain unchanged, but pump stations would simply shut down after running out of their allocated petrol. Another is to offer all Iranians – including those without a vehicle – roughly 30 litres of fuel per month at the lowest price tier. Those who don’t drive could sell their monthly quota if they choose. The third option is to liberalise the price of fuel for all, with the government reportedly considering a price of 872,000 rials (about 44 cents) per litre. But the consequence of this would be to create another huge inflationary bubble, with the massive increase in transport and logistics costs for businesses being passed on to consumers. This price is closer to the refinery production price tag, and was almost implemented in a pilot programme in Kerman, the country’s largest province, in southeastern Iran. Local authorities, reportedly in conjunction with the government, announced the new prices would be enforced in 204 pump stations across the province overnight into August 13. But the government cancelled the pilot scheme at the last minute, and contradicted local officials by saying they were not consulted on the move. Nevertheless, the government has signalled that a considerable price increase is in the works. On Friday, First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref said that the cheapest price tier with the 60-litre quota must remain in place. But the second quota could gradually fall, and prices should ultimately be liberalised transparently with proceeds directed toward vulnerable people. “The government keeps talking about how fuel prices don’t match other countries, but it doesn’t like to talk about how salaries don’t even begin to match other places, or other expenses,” Mostafa, who earns 300 million rials ($150) a month working at a clothing shop in western Tehran, told Al Jazeera. He explained that while the cost of driving to work in his 15-year-old Iranian-made vehicle does not factor heavily in his monthly calculations, housing, food and other runaway expenses are a major challenge after months of war, blockade and intensified US sanctions, as well as domestic mismanagement and state-imposed internet shutdowns. Figures released by the Statistical Center of Iran in July reported that prices were 88 percent higher compared to the same month last year, with food inflation standing at over 128 percent. A 55-year-old man working as a driver for multiple online ride-hailing services told Al Jazeera that conversations with passengers often turn into expressions of anger and frustration about the deteriorating living conditions in Iran. “Everything will get more expensive a little while after fuel gets more expensive,” he said. “We’re already getting crushed by the prices we have today.”

!Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei Toggle Play Iran threatens countries that join US ‘economic D-Day’ Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warns that countries joining the US economic war against Iran will face ‘tit-for-tat’ action. It comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to unleash ‘economic warfare’ against Iran. Published On 22 Aug 202622 Aug 2026 Save Share Iran threatens countries that join US ‘economic D-Day’ on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo More from the same show Nearly one in two Ebola patients dying in DR Congo outbreak !. Video Duration 00 minutes 49 seconds play-arrow00:49 Nathan Cofnas on whether he feels responsible for Jason Arday’s death Video Duration 02 minutes 07 seconds play-arrow02:07 Are humanoid robots the future of warfare? !. Video Duration 02 minutes 09 seconds play-arrow02:09 Video: Russia launches rocket into space with military satellite Video Duration 00 minutes 31 seconds play-arrow00:31 Houses set on fire as fresh violence erupts in India’s Manipur !. Video Duration 00 minutes 42 seconds play-arrow00:42 Rain and flooding from Typhoon Narra hits China and Vietnam !China floods Video Duration 00 minutes 51 seconds play-arrow00:51 ‘Barrel bomb mufti’ sentenced to life in Syria Video Duration 02 minutes 09 seconds play-arrow02:09 [](https://www.aljazeera.com/) Your browser does not support the audio element. audio-rewind audio-play audio-forward * audio-volume-mute close You rely on Al Jazeera for truth and transparency We and our 1013 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting Allow all enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. Selecting Reject all or withdrawing your consent will disable them. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Manage preferences link on the bottom of the webpage. Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy. We and our partners process data to provide: Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development. List of Partners (vendors) Allow all Reject all Manage preferences

Tehran – In a move Iranians interpret as the opening of a broader round of economic war on their country, the U.S. Treasury plans to announce details of the new round of sanctions on Tehran. Yet the most important message lies in President Donald Trump’s warning of a “superior economic onslaught” that would extend beyond Iran to any country or entity that provides it with economic support, raising questions about which sectors are most vulnerable to the new wave of economic pressure. These sanctions come about six months after Washington’s promises of a “quick victory” over Iran, before the military option reached a dead end and the prospects for a future agreement dwindled day by day, revealing a shift in the course of the confrontation: the epicenter of the threat moving from hard military confrontation to soft economic pressure. Also Read list of 2 items"Don’t enter an economic war against Iran" Iran’s response to the new round of sanctions was not less severe than previous ones: Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, warned in a television interview: “We tell all neighboring countries: do not enter an economic war against Iran. And anyone who enters it will be considered an enemy,” adding in a confrontational tone: “We have not targeted American economic interests so far, but if hostilities continue, this option is on the table.” As for Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, he chose a tone of historic irony, writing on his X platform account: “This repeated film is doomed to fail. Fourteen years ago they imposed ‘the toughest sanctions in history’… and it failed. Eight years ago they practiced ‘maximum pressure’… and it failed. Five months ago they proposed ‘unconditional surrender’… and it failed. And today comes ‘the most crushing economic operation in history’… this too is doomed to fail. We’ve seen this film before; the same story, but with different bullies.” Yet behind this apparent confidence, Tehran’s experts’ analysis carries a different tone. Dr. Mehiyâr Ramazanikhani, a professor of economics at the University of Tehran, believes there is something distinguishing this round from the previous ones, explaining that “the problem now is that the Iranian economy’s elasticity, which allowed it to sidestep sanctions so far, is running out, because the new round of sanctions targets not only Iran but anyone that deals with it. This makes it different and more dangerous than the previous rounds.” In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Ramazanikhani details three ways the new sanctions differ from the previous rounds as follows: - The maritime blockade that has been in place for months doubles the impact of any new sanctions. - The new sanctions target any country engaging in trade with Iran, risking their Tehran partners cutting their trade ties with it. - The sanctions also target even individuals, intermediaries, and brokers who assist Tehran in evading sanctions. Ramazanikhani emphasizes that this triad is what makes the current round exceptional. Fragile Iranian Sectors Asked about the sectors most vulnerable, Ramazanikhani sketches a grim map, saying, “The biggest worry is that our main partners, such as China and the UAE, will cut their trade and financial ties with us for fear of U.S. sanctions. If that happens, the impact will be devastating.” He adds: “The pharmaceutical production chain will be the most affected, followed by the food sector,” noting that Iran imports about 80% of livestock feed and raw materials for food factories from other countries, and all payments are in hard currency. Under the new sanctions, we will face enormous difficulties in providing the raw materials for our essential food industries. Ramazanikhani also notes that the automotive sector will be among the broadly affected sectors because many spare parts come from abroad, adding, “In the medical sector, the laboratory equipment we import is our biggest weak point,” in addition to the tourism and energy sectors, small businesses, money exchange companies, and remittance networks, as well as shadow fleets that will face enormous pressure in the coming period. In the housing sector, the academic warns of a double crisis that tightens supply and raises construction costs, represented by a steel shortage after production capacity was damaged by the recent war, along with a severe energy deficit reflected in construction materials production, led by cement. He adds that continued pressure could lead to a slowdown in housing construction and higher prices, especially since the sector relies on importing a number of equipment and utility systems, such as elevators, heating and cooling systems, and their spare parts, making them equally vulnerable to the new sanctions. Timing of the New Wave of Economic Pressure As for Iranian economist Albert Baghdazian, he offers a striking take on why the timing of the new wave of economic pressure matters, noting that President Trump previously tested the policy of the harshest pressures on Iran without success before turning to the military option, but now believes that the circumstances have changed compared to before the war: inflation was less severe then, ways to circumvent sanctions were open to Tehran, the Strait of Hormuz was not closed, relations with Gulf states were not tense, and trade through its gateway proceeded apace. But all these factors have reversed. In his interview with Al Jazeera Net, Baghdazian sees that some internal economic decisions helped, in his view, strengthen the belief of the Trump administration that the pressures may be more effective this time, led foremost by the elimination of the foreign currency subsidy used for importing essential goods, along with the change of prominent economic figures amid last winter’s protests, including the former economy minister, factors he says contributed to price doubling. The Living Conditions in Iran Baghdazian argues that the damages to the steel and petrochemical sectors from the last war have made inflation eat away at the remaining purchasing power of Iranian citizens and undermine their living standards, prompting a message to Washington that “now the pressure can bear fruit.” He summarizes the scene: “This time, Trump did not come alone. The maritime blockade continues, the UAE has cut its financial and trade ties with us, and it seems the American side is painting a larger sanctions picture against us. We have never faced a situation like this before where we had networks to circumvent sanctions and transfers, but after Tehran’s relations with Gulf states deteriorated, Trump seeks to exploit the new situation to cut Iran’s economic lifelines.” In conclusion, Baghdazian addresses Iran’s decision-makers in economics, urging them to avoid any steps that could add new pressures on citizens at this stage. He says, “Now is not the time to repeat mistakes; the timing is not right to raise the prices of essential goods, or to end the subsidized currency for other items like fuel, nor is it appropriate to raise gasoline prices. Extreme caution is required and any decision that could worsen the situation should be avoided.” Baghdazian stresses that the new wave of sanctions, though targeting different sectors of the Iranian economy, has a broader aim in his view: to weaken Tehran’s economic capacity before any new potential round of military confrontation. With Monday approaching, Tehran awaits the U.S. Treasury Secretary’s announcement within hours detailing what Washington called the “overwhelming economic operation,” amid a mix of defiance and anxiety. While Iranian authorities threaten to face an economic war, Iranians’ attention turns to the currency market, as the dollar surpassed two million rials by Sunday evening. Meanwhile, observers pose a question under the headline: “Who will pay for this economic war first, and who will break first?” In Tehran, everyone understands that the answer may not be far away.

Iran rejected the American threats of imposing new sanctions, deeming them to reflect what it described as a “despair” in Washington, and affirming that the anticipated measures will not succeed in bending Tehran to Washington’s will, as economic and geopolitical pressure on the country intensifies, while the shipping sector in the vital Hormuz Strait for global oil trade nears near-total stoppage. Reuters, citing statements by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, said Tehran sees the United States’ shift from military operations to signaling new sanctions as a repetition of previous plans that had “failed,” noting that Washington is called upon to engage with Iran with respect to reaching a solution based on “justice and dignity.” It was announced that U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen would hold a press conference on Monday, amid threats to impose “the harshest sanctions in history” on Iran. A lifeline under siege The anticipated sanctions come as the Iranian economy is already under intense pressure from international sanctions, coupled with damage to infrastructure from ongoing military operations since February. The economic fallout has intensified with disruptions to shipping in the Hormuz Strait after Iran blocked oil tankers without authorization from passing through the waterway, causing a drop in shipping activity to near standstill and pushing global oil prices higher. The escalation increases the risk of global energy supply disruption, especially since the strait is one of the world’s most important routes for transporting oil and gas, while Tehran faces additional American pressure aimed at countries that provide it with any “lifeline” of economic vitality. Washington seeks to intensify pressure on China to cooperate with it in isolating Iran, given Tehran’s heavy reliance on the Chinese market to absorb its oil exports. According to Capintel data for 2025, China accounts for more than 80% of Iran’s oil transported by sea. In contrast, Beijing has urged pursuing a diplomatic path, signaling the difficulty of implementing any broad American campaign without greater cooperation from the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil. Pakistan Steps In to Mediate In an attempt to contain the escalation, Iran announced that Pakistan’s Army Chief, Asim Munir, will visit Tehran on Monday to discuss regional developments and efforts to restore peace and security. Pakistan plays the role of mediator in the conflict, with a Pakistani government source saying Munir’s visit will address the latest developments, including the American threats to impose new sanctions. Despite military and economic pressures, Tehran continues to adopt a hard line, while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi simultaneously urged a diplomatic solution to end the war, stressing that his country is capable of negotiating from a position of strength and “dignity.”

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Washington’s latest move — described as “the most crushing sanctions in human history” — by sharing a 14-year-old post from a former US president regarding “the most crippling sanctions in history.” “14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed,” Araghchi wrote on his X account on Friday. “8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed,” he added. “Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.’ Bound to fail,” he noted. “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” Araghchi stressed. On October 12, 2012, Barack Obama, by posting a message on the social media platform Twitter, had quoted his then-Vice President Joe Biden regarding sanctions against Iran: “These are the most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions. Period.” Source:IRNA Araghchi to Trump: We Have Seen this Movie Before Hamas Military Spokesman Calls on Palestinian in Occupied West Bank and Al-Quds to Confront Zionists Two Israeli air raids target Byout Al-Sayyad town, South Lebanon: Al-Manar reporter

Iran said on Friday that its response to any new American threats would be “devastating,” after Washington threatened to impose the harshest financial sanctions in history aimed at overthrowing Iran’s leadership. Reuters news agency reported that Washington is preparing to impose sanctions, and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he would announce the details on Monday. Former US President Donald Trump had previously warned of economic consequences for any country providing “any form of assistance to Iran.” Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, stressed that Tehran’s response would be wide-ranging and decisive. Official media quoted him as saying that “the Iranian Armed Forces, with the readiness it possesses at land, sea, air, air defense, and cyberspace levels, will respond to any new threats from the enemy with overwhelming, painful, and devastating responses.” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, on Friday, who is Tehran’s main negotiator in talks held through intermediaries with the United States, said Washington apparently has concluded that it is unable to win a direct military confrontation. During a visit to Iraq, he added: “We must develop plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them.” He accused the United States and Israel of resorting to what he described as an economic and “cognitive” warfare. Oil prices fell slightly today but are on track to post their second weekly gain in a row after rising Thursday in response to the new American threats to impose sanctions. Mnuchin told CNBC: “I’m not sure why oil prices are rising in this context... if we are applying maximum economic pressure, that would likely mean there won’t be a broad resumption of military operations.” The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and pushed up global fuel prices, as Iran attacked shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which had been used for about one-fifth of the world’s oil traded before February. Data from Campbell Fuller Tracking showed that only seven merchant ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, Thursday, half the number recorded the day before, compared with more than 130 ships daily before the war. “A Double Blow.” The United States and Iran announced two cease-fire agreements in April and June aimed at restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a path toward ending the conflict that has lasted for about six months, but they collapsed quickly. Mnuchin said he would reveal “exactly what we will do with Iran” at a press conference on Monday. He added: “We will topple this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,” describing the maritime blockade reimposed on Iran in July and “the harshest sanctions in history” as a “double blow.” Before Mnuchin spoke, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the US sanctions would not “dissuade Iranians from protecting Iran’s independence, dignity, and national sovereignty.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who is described as relatively moderate and has expressed concerns about the economy, said Iran’s response to any attack would be “decisive,” but that the war should end now as the United States has become internationally isolated, reiterating a previous stance. “Sanctions do not help.” Trump is under domestic pressure to end the war, while high fuel prices erode his approval ratings and threaten Republicans’ chances of preserving control of Congress in the November midterm elections. Mnuchin said China gets about half of its energy from the Gulf, so it makes sense for it to “join this track.” Kn Bearer data from Capella Analytics for 2025 indicated that China bought more than 80% of Iran’s oil shipments. But the escalation of the economic war with Beijing, which had eased some restrictions on rare earth minerals exports, risks triggering retaliatory actions. Sources told Reuters that Iranian crude oil offers to Chinese buyers have already declined since the United States reimposed its blockade on Iranian ports in mid-July. The Chinese embassy in Washington said that “sanctions and pressure do not help solve the problem,” urging the use of diplomatic means.

Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz and vows to target oil exports if neighboring countries join the war Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz and prevent oil from leaving the Gulf region if neighboring countries join the war alongside the United States in what it called an “economic war.” The Iranian television cited the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, saying Tehran would treat any neighboring country that joins the United States in the economic war as an “enemy,” warning of the repercussions for the movement of oil exports through the Gulf. The Iranian official said a “single drop of oil” would not leave the Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz if the surrounding countries participate in the economic war alongside Washington, adding that his country would also target other routes through which Gulf-sourced oil passes. Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz The official stressed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills its commitments, insisting that Washington must be the party to begin fulfilling these obligations this time. He added that more than 50% of the Gulf coastlines are under Iranian sovereignty, arguing that Tehran is the party that should manage the Strait of Hormuz. In discussing the confrontation with the United States, the Iranian official said the American people oppose war with Iran and do not support the U.S. army and government, while the Iranian government and people, he claimed, stand united behind the armed forces. He also claimed that the “prestige” of F-35 fighters has been damaged in Iran and that Arab states no longer trust American weaponry. The Iranian official directed a warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, saying Tehran would respond with a “severe” strike if Washington took new steps against it. Despite the threatening tone, the official said Iran seeks to end the war and stands up to those it described as “warmongers” in the world. These statements come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States, amid fears that any escalation in the Gulf could threaten navigation security and the movement of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important sea routes for global energy trade.

Iran Says Regime Must Overcome ‘Unjust’ Economic Pressure as US Vows to Impose ‘Toughest Sanctions in History’ Error: Contact form not found. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf said on Friday that Iran must plan to overcome “unjust sanctions,” a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced what he described as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Iran. Bessent said on Thursday the measures would be detailed on Monday, suggesting they could lessen the need for further major military operations. Qalibaf, one of Iran‘s most influential political figures and Tehran‘s top negotiator in talks with the United States, said economic development and security were closely linked. He accused the United States and Israel of waging economic and “cognitive” warfare after concluding they could not prevail in a direct military confrontation with Iran and Iraq. “If you look at the resources and raw materials of Muslim countries, you will realize that our enemies come to plunder them,” Qalibaf told Iranian and Iraqi business representatives in Baghdad, according to his Telegram channel. “Therefore, we must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them.” He also called for stronger economic ties between Baghdad and Tehran and said the two countries could use their national currencies in trade to reduce reliance on the US dollar. Separately, the chief of staff of Iran‘s Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the Islamic Republic’s reaction to major new US sanctions would be broad and decisive. “With preparedness across land, sea, air, air defense, and cyberspace, Iran‘s armed forces will respond to the enemy’s new threats with crushing, punishing, and devastating responses,” Abdollahi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. The comments came after Bessent said on Thursday that the US will impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran. His statement followed President Donald Trump’s threat a day earlier of “Economic Warfare” and warning of economic consequences against any country that provided “any type of lifeline to Iran.” Oil prices rose to more than a three-week high on Thursday following those US threats of financial penalties aimed at forcing an end to a nearly six-month-old war that has stranded millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil. “I’m not sure why oil has popped up on this,” Bessent told CNBC. “If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,” he said, using a term referring to military force. IRAN CALLS US SANCTIONS ‘ECONOMIC TERRORISM’ Thousands have been killed in the conflict, which drew in Gulf nations and shocked markets as Iran flexed its ability to curb shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway that carried about a fifth of all traded oil before February. The US and Iran have twice announced ceasefire deals, in April and June, aiming to restore the free flow of shipping through Hormuz on a path towards ending the conflict, but both quickly crumbled. Before Bessent spoke, Iran‘s foreign ministry said it condemned US economic and trade sanctions, calling them “economic terrorism” that would target ordinary Iranians and amount to crimes against humanity. Bessent told CNBC he would share more details and “talk about exactly what we’re going to do” on Iran at a press conference on Monday. “It is a one-two punch. We have the blockade [on Iran], and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history,” he added, referring to a US naval blockade imposed on Iran in April and paused for a month in mid-June. “It is going to work in Iran, and we are going to collapse this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,” he said. When asked if the United States could target China for doing business with Iran, Bessent said many conversations were best to have in private. “Keep in mind that the Chinese get 50% [of their] energy from inside from the Gulf. So, it would do them a big service to get with the program,” he said. China buys more than 80% of Iran‘s shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler, but engaging in further economic warfare with China, a major exporter to the US including vital rare-earth minerals, risks retaliation against Washington. IRAN HAS FACED YEARS OF SANCTIONS In a social media message on Wednesday, Trump promised “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” although details were scant. Iran has weathered near-continuous, punishing economic sanctions for nearly 50 years, since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. “ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences,” Trump wrote. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called Trump’s comments an attempt to divert American public opinion from domestic financial problems, including record debt and rising interest rates. He said Washington’s insistence on policies he described as failed would bring further failures and alienate Iranians. “America’s economic terrorism threatens the global economy and the national sovereignty of countries around the world,” he said on X. During the early weeks of the war, the US and Israel destroyed much of Iran’s navy, air force, and military-industrial base for its drone and missile programs. However, Trump has yet to achieve the objectives he set out at the start of the war: dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, curbing its ability to attack regional rivals, and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers. Trump’s social media threats and announcements do not always get implemented as written. He did not say what specific steps the US would take or name any country, though the warning would appear to extend to US allies that have helped mediate peace talks. Iran has separately been negotiating an agreement on managing the Strait of Hormuz with Oman and has said several times in recent weeks that an agreement was close. Trump responded on Monday to those negotiations with a threat, warning he might bomb the Gulf state, a longstanding US security partner, if it “gets in the way.” Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, speaking after meeting his Japanese counterpart, said on Thursday that lasting security in the strait required a permanent peace in the region and rejected further escalation.

China urges negotiations over US Treasury chief’s ‘toughest sanctions’ against Iran Bessent warned that US ‘will put its full might and force toward’ those nations found transferring money, buying oil from Iran Riyaz ul Khaliq 21 August 2026•Update: 21 August 2026 ISTANBUL China Friday reiterated its call for negotiations between the US and Iran to end the conflict, after the US Treasury secretary announced what they called the “toughest sanctions in history” against Tehran. “China always believes military actions, sanctioning, pressuring do not help solve the problem, it only builds up the tensions in the current situation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing. He said such actions do “not fit interests of any party.” “We urge the relevant party to solve the current dispute through negotiations and dialogue,” Lin responded when asked about fresh US sanctions on Iran, which Tehran dubbed “economic terrorism.” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Thursday said Washington will impose the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran as part of what he called the “greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world.” He told CNBC that the US “will put its full might and force toward” those nations found transferring money, buying oil, or doing seaborne ship transport with Iran. Washington would tell countries they are “either with us or against us," said Bessent. However, Lin said China -- the world's second-largest economy and one of the largest importers of Iranian oil -- "opposes any illegal, unilateral sanctions without authorization of the UN.” “China hopes all sides take responsibility to solve the current issues through political settlement,’ he added.

ANI |Updated:Aug 21, 2026 23:12IST Tehran[Iran], August 21 (ANI):Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed AbbasAraghchion Friday hit back at US President DonaldTrump's announcement of an "Economic D-Day" campaign againstTehran, calling the latest US pressure campaign "bound to fail" and citing previous American sanctions policies that he said had failed.In a post on X,Araghchilisted previous US "failed" measures againstIranand compared them withTrump's latest announcement."14 years ago: 'Most crippling sanctions in history.' Failed. 8 years ago: 'Maximum pressure.' Failed. 5 months ago: 'Unconditional surrender.' Failed. Today: 'Most crushing economic operation ever.' Bound to fail. We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,"Araghchisaid.Araghchialso shared a 2012 post by former US President Barack Obama in which Obama quoted then-Vice President Joe Biden describing US sanctions againstIranas the "most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions."TheIranian Foreign Minister had earlier describedTrump's "Economic D-Day" announcement as an attempt to divert attention from economic problems in the United States."The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs,"Araghchisaid in another post."Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat--and enmity ofIranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide," he added.Araghchi's remarks came afterTrumpannounced on Wednesday what he described as the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country" targetingIran, calling the campaign "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale."Trumpsaid the measures would targetIran's economic lifelines, including oil smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies."Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies -- It all needs to stop now,"Trumpsaid in his post on Truth Social.The US President also called the campaign an "Economic D-Day" and urged American allies to join Washington in isolatingIran. "You know who you are. This will be an Economic D-Day, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, theIranthreat,"Trumpsaid.Araghchialso shared reports from CNN and The New York Times concerning the US national debt.According to CNN, US federal debt reached USD 40 trillion on Tuesday amid rising interest payments and concerns over the pace of debt accumulation.The US national debt increased by USD 1 trillion in five months, according to US Treasury Department data cited by CNN, while the federal government recorded a USD 1.8 trillion deficit during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.Trump, meanwhile, saidIranhad failed to reach an agreement with Washington despite being given an opportunity to do so."No one has given the Islamic Republic ofIrana greater opportunity to make a deal than me. Tragically, for them, they have failed to take it,"Trumpsaid.He reiterated thatIranwould not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, stating, "Iranwill never have a nuclear weapon."Trumpalso said Washington had "very draconian sanctions" available againstIranand indicated that additional measures could be announced."We have things that we could sanction. We have very draconian sanctions, and we'll see what happens,"Trumpsaid while addressing technology leaders.He said Washington would determine its next course of action based on developments, adding that the situation could either result in a significant fall in oil prices or lead to a continuation of the existing measures."It'll either be extremely good, and oil prices are going to drop like a rock or we'll continue to do exactly what we're doing,"Trumpsaid.Araghchi's latest comments underlineTehran's rejection of Washington's renewed economic pressure campaign, with theIranian Foreign Minister arguing that previous US sanctions strategies had failed to forceIranto change course. (ANI) ANI |Updated:Aug 21, 2026 23:12IST Tehran[Iran], August 21 (ANI):Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed AbbasAraghchion Friday hit back at US President DonaldTrump's announcement of an "Economic D-Day" campaign againstTehran, calling the latest US pressure campaign "bound to fail" and citing previous American sanctions policies that he said had failed.In a post on X,Araghchilisted previous US "failed" measures againstIranand compared them withTrump's latest announcement."14 years ago: 'Most crippling sanctions in history.' Failed. 8 years ago: 'Maximum pressure.' Failed. 5 months ago: 'Unconditional surrender.' Failed. Today: 'Most crushing economic operation ever.' Bound to fail. We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,"Araghchisaid.Araghchialso shared a 2012 post by former US President Barack Obama in which Obama quoted then-Vice President Joe Biden describing US sanctions againstIranas the "most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions."TheIranian Foreign Minister had earlier describedTrump's "Economic D-Day" announcement as an attempt to divert attention from economic problems in the United States."The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs,"Araghchisaid in another post."Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat--and enmity ofIranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide," he added.Araghchi's remarks came afterTrumpannounced on Wednesday what he described as the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country" targetingIran, calling the campaign "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale."Trumpsaid the measures would targetIran's economic lifelines, including oil smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies."Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies -- It all needs to stop now,"Trumpsaid in his post on Truth Social.The US President also called the campaign an "Economic D-Day" and urged American allies to join Washington in isolatingIran. "You know who you are. This will be an Economic D-Day, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, theIranthreat,"Trumpsaid.Araghchialso shared reports from CNN and The New York Times concerning the US national debt.According to CNN, US federal debt reached USD 40 trillion on Tuesday amid rising interest payments and concerns over the pace of debt accumulation.The US national debt increased by USD 1 trillion in five months, according to US Treasury Department data cited by CNN, while the federal government recorded a USD 1.8 trillion deficit during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.Trump, meanwhile, saidIranhad failed to reach an agreement with Washington despite being given an opportunity to do so."No one has given the Islamic Republic ofIrana greater opportunity to make a deal than me. Tragically, for them, they have failed to take it,"Trumpsaid.He reiterated thatIranwould not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, stating, "Iranwill never have a nuclear weapon."Trumpalso said Washington had "very draconian sanctions" available againstIranand indicated that additional measures could be announced."We have things that we could sanction. We have very draconian sanctions, and we'll see what happens,"Trumpsaid while addressing technology leaders.He said Washington would determine its next course of action based on developments, adding that the situation could either result in a significant fall in oil prices or lead to a continuation of the existing measures."It'll either be extremely good, and oil prices are going to drop like a rock or we'll continue to do exactly what we're doing,"Trumpsaid.Araghchi's latest comments underlineTehran's rejection of Washington's renewed economic pressure campaign, with theIranian Foreign Minister arguing that previous US sanctions strategies had failed to forceIranto change course. (ANI) Iran Us sanctions Economic pressure Trump Araghchi Tehran Hezbollah slams US over re-designation linked to Iran's IRGC-Quds Force, rejects Washington's claims Updated:Aug 21, 2026 19:49IST "Should ignore such institutions": MEA slams USCIRF's remarks on RSS, calls it "biased" and "lacking in credibility" Updated:Aug 21, 2026 18:43IST India stands for peaceful resolution through dialogue, diplomacy: MEA on Trump's threat of Economic D-Day on Iran Updated:Aug 21, 2026 17:52IST Ghalibaf pushes for trade in local currency to bypass "cruel sanctions" as US threatens "toughest" economic action on Iran Updated:Aug 21, 2026 17:43IST Proposed programme not appropriate: MEA on denial of permission for Telangana CM's US visit Updated:Aug 21, 2026 17:31IST MEA dismisses Pakistan's "frustration" over US envoy's remarks; reaffirms J-K is "indivisible" part of India Updated:Aug 21, 2026 14:51IST US-South Korea joint military drills cut short following Trump directive

Bessent described the strategy as a combination of blockage and extreme economic sanctions. President Donald Trump also warned that any country providing what he called an economic lifeline for Iran could face consequences from the United States. The message has a particularly important recipient: China. Data cited by Reuters indicate that China buys more than 80% of Iranian oil transported by sea. This makes Beijing a key element in any U.S. effort to sharply reduce Tehran’s oil revenues. Bessent avoided specifying whether Washington would impose sanctions directly on Chinese companies or entities, but noted that roughly half of the energy China consumes comes from the Gulf region and stated that Beijing is interested in the Strait of Hormuz returning to normal operation. A direct economic confrontation with China, however, would also pose a significant risk to the United States. Beijing is one of the United States’ largest trading partners and plays a fundamental role in strategic sectors, including the supply of rare earth minerals. For this reason, any secondary sanctions on Chinese companies would have much broader consequences than the bilateral confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

Trump announces the 'most crushing economic operation' against Iran, and Tehran describes it as 'failed policies.' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described Thursday the plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to tighten economic sanctions on Tehran as more 'failed policies' that will bring Washington 'more defeats,' as he put it. In a post on the X platform, Zarif said that what is called the 'Economic Victory Day' is nothing but a distraction from the United States’ own crisis: unprecedented debt and rising borrowing costs, adding that clinging to failed policies will bring nothing but more defeats and Iranian anger. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had announced the 'most crushing economic operation ever' against Iran, describing it as part of a war waged economically and an unprecedented isolation operation. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: 'Nobody has given Iran a greater opportunity than I to clinch a deal, and unfortunately, tragically, they failed to take advantage of it.' Trump warned that any country allowing its financial institutions, companies, airports, or government bodies to provide any form of lifeline to Iran would find itself facing enormous economic consequences. Trump stressed the need to halt 'oil smuggling, barter lines, and cash transfers and the use of shell companies as a façade,' saying: 'All of this must stop now. And you know yourselves,' he said. Trump did not specify the measures Washington would take against these states, nor did he name any country explicitly. The American president said: 'This is a day of economic landings; we want all our allies to line up with the United States to isolate Iran and defeat it... these fools are staggering, and these historic measures will cripple them and cripple their ability to spread terrorism around the world.' Trump added: 'Their fleet is finished, their airpower has been destroyed, their military factories lie in ruins, their currency is worthless, and their state is teetering on the brink... Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon.' This announcement by Trump comes as the war enters its sixth month, with no decisive military outcome or diplomatic breakthrough in sight, while the Strait of Hormuz remains practically closed. As the midterm elections near in November, Trump faces domestic criticism over the costs of the war on American consumers, as well as U.S. military losses. In the Hormuz, ship traffic on Wednesday did not differ from the previous day; satellite data from ClipperTracking showed that nine cargo ships passed through the strait on Wednesday. In the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, traffic dropped to 27 ships on Wednesday from 32 that crossed on Tuesday, according to Clipper data. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif spoke by phone on Wednesday with Pakistani Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, discussing the latest diplomatic developments between Iran and the United States and efforts to enhance cooperation with Pakistan, according to Zarif’s Telegram channel. This contact comes amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, two days after the end of a memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan between the two sides. On Monday, August 17, the 60-day deadline specified in the Tehran–Washington memorandum of understanding elapsed without the two sides converting the interim understanding into a final agreement. Zarif also spoke by phone on Wednesday with Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation among Islamic countries, especially through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to support Palestine and counter what he described as 'Israeli plots against the interests of the Islamic world.' This coincided with a visit to Baghdad by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who urged the promotion of what he described as the 'new system in the region' and support for cooperation 'without foreign interference.' Iran warned on Wednesday Gulf states against supporting the U.S. military after the UAE announced cutting its economic ties with Iran. Despite recent de-escalation between the United States and Iran, the Hormuz Strait remains a flashpoint—still closed by Tehran in practice—and ships attempting to pass the vital waterway continue to come under attacks. In parallel, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform describing the Hormuz Strait as 'American land.' According to reports, with U.S. military operations failing for months to decisively end the war, Iran’s stance appears defiant in the face of Washington’s threats, as recently some prominent hardline figures have assumed leading military and security positions, such as Mohsen Rezaei (71) as Secretary of the High Council for National Security and Hossein Taeb (63) as commander of the Basij. Analysts see these appointments as preparing for a long-term confrontation with the United States. Iranian military leaders warned against any new full-scale escalation that might push them to exceed their previous strategy—attacking American bases, energy facilities, and other critical infrastructure in the Middle East—and aiming for farther goals. A Financial Times report stated that Iran is considering attacking American military targets in Europe if Trump escalates military operations to deter Tehran. The report, citing two familiar sources, said Iranian forces are assessing strikes on American assets in Southeastern European countries such as Bulgaria, which last month allowed the U.S. to use its Bazmre airbase to fuel American aircraft. Iranian forces are also considering targeting underwater fiber optic cables in the Hormuz Strait, according to the report, which also noted that Cyprus—home to a British airbase—is among Iran’s potential targets in an escalation scenario. The threats reflect a rising challenging tone among many within the ruling system who have come to believe that resuming the war is only a matter of time, the newspaper notes. A Wall Street Journal report said that the Trump administration is betting that a combination of strict sanctions and a U.S. Navy blockade will hasten the Iranian economy’s rapid slide into a sharp collapse and force Tehran to concede. The report added that Trump’s senior advisers view crippling Iran’s ability to trade with the world as more feasible and effective than military operations or diplomatic efforts that have so far failed to compel Tehran to accept American terms, according to the Journal. According to the paper’s sources, Gulf states allied with the United States believe Iran will eventually retaliate militarily to the intensification of economic pressure, reigniting the conflict.

Pakistan Army Chief visits Tehran to discuss mediation efforts, and Bezhkian says Iran is fighting a three-dimensional war The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir will visit Tehran on Monday as part of Islamabad’s efforts to mediate a solution to the war in the Middle East. Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh? (Note: In the original, the name is Ismail Baghaee) stated in a Sunday statement that Munir will lead a delegation to the Iranian capital "within the framework of efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation between Iran and Pakistan." The statement added that the visit also comes in the context of "Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to help establish peace and security in the region." Pakistan has played a key role in efforts to halt the war between Iran and the United States, having mediated in a memorandum of understanding reached in June, though peace talks currently appear to be stalled. Earlier this month, Pakistan signed a joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, a move some analysts say is aimed at countering Iranian influence. Bezhkian: "We are waging an economic, military, and security war" Bezhkian, in a televised address broadcast by Iran’s state television on Sunday, said he is aware that society is currently facing "many problems," adding that his government is trying to curb them as much as possible. His remarks came after the United States vowed last week to work toward causing a collapse of the Iranian regime through a new round of sanctions aimed at increasing the economy’s isolation. The Iranian president said that, due to the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, his country is now waging a "comprehensive economic, military, and security war," pointing to Trump’s announcement of the harshest and most chilling sanctions on Iran. Bezhkian added that his government is working to address inflation, living costs, unemployment, and to secure Iranians’ future so they can live "with dignity and pride." The sanctions come as Iran faces mounting economic pressure, including rising prices, exchange-rate fluctuations, and eroding purchasing power, factors that have fueled waves of protests in recent years. In late December 2025, protests began over rising living costs, which later evolved into large-scale demonstrations against the authorities, peaking on January 8-9, 2026. Authorities said more than three thousand people were killed during the unrest, and the United States and Israel were accused of instigating the violence. However, non-governmental organizations based outside Iran said authorities carried out a random crackdown that killed thousands. Iranian President Massoud Bezhkian acknowledged that Iranians are facing "many problems" as the United States seeks to tighten Tehran’s economic isolation with new sanctions after about six months since the war began. His remarks coincided with an escalation by Iran against countries that might join the sanctions, and the execution of a man linked to protests against the government, as Tehran prepared to receive the Pakistani army chief as part of mediation efforts to end the war. Tehran threatens the interests of countries joining the "economic war" Earlier, Bezhkian’s remarks were preceded by a warning from Iran’s top security council head, Mohsen Rezaei (the text says Rahaii), on Saturday about any country participating in the U.S.-led sanctions campaign. Rezaei, in comments to state television, said any country that imposes economic limits on Iran would be regarded as a "foe," urging other states not to join what he called the "economic war" waged by the United States. He threatened that Iran would harm the interests of countries that do not distance themselves from the U.S. campaign, and hinted at targeting American oil and economic companies in and around Iran and elsewhere, saying Tehran has so far targeted military bases only and has not attacked American economic interests. Washington had urged other governments, including Beijing, to participate in efforts to isolate Iran’s economy. But China criticized the move, saying American sanctions would not resolve the Middle East conflict. In contrast, the United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday, August 18, a suspension of all commercial and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. The UAE is among Tehran’s key trading partners. Execution of a espionage suspect In a domestic development, Iranian judicial authorities announced on Sunday, August 23, the execution of Majid Adineh, who was convicted of working for Israel and the United States during the government protests in January. Mezan Online, a site affiliated with the judiciary, said the court convicted the suspect of conducting field activities for "hostile groups" and deliberately setting fires, in addition to gathering and coordinating with others to commit crimes harmful to internal security. According to the Iranian judiciary, Adineh and another suspect were arrested on January 9 in Alborz province, west of Tehran. Authorities said they were carrying a pistol and ammunition, and had two electroshock devices, two tear gas canisters, a rechargeable electric saw, and a bottle of gasoline. The Ghajar Revolutionary Court issued a verdict of execution for Adineh and seized his property, which the Supreme Court later upheld after the appeal was rejected. The sentence was carried out on Sunday morning. Executions have increased in Iran since the war began on February 28, 2026, amid American and Israeli strikes against the country, with many of them linked to protests, while other cases relate to the war. Human Rights in Iran (Norway-based) and Together Against the Death Penalty (Paris-based) said Iran had executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, the highest number recorded since 1989. According to Amnesty International, Iran ranks second globally in executions after China. Headlines Reader preferences Content not available

pakistan army chief’s visit to Tehran ahead of US sanctions The Pakistani Army Chief, General Asim Munir, is scheduled to visit Tehran on Monday, followed by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi on Tuesday, in a diplomatic move as Washington is preparing to unveil new sanctions on Iran. Tehran has warned it would block oil exports from the Gulf if it continues what it calls an economic war against it. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Munir would visit Tehran at the head of an official delegation and meet senior Iranian officials as part of the ongoing efforts by Pakistan to promote peace and security in the region. Two Pakistani government sources confirmed the visit to Reuters, with one saying the talks would cover recent developments, including the American threat of new economic sanctions. Pakistan plays a mediating role between Iran and the United States, while Washington and Tehran have not held direct talks since the round held in Switzerland in June. Although direct strikes between the two sides have paused for weeks, efforts to end the war that has raged for about six months have yet to yield a tangible breakthrough. In a parallel development, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sattar Mamman Behnam? (Ismail) reported Monday that Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi would visit Tehran on Tuesday to continue talks between Iran and Oman on the Hormuz Strait. Tehran had previously announced earlier this month that it had reached an understanding with Muscat on a navigation path through the strait, and that the two sides are working to complete arrangements to manage it, but tied any wider reopening of the passage to ending the United States’ naval siege of Iranian ports. The Hormuz Strait is among the most contentious points in the conflict. Iran has imposed de facto restrictions on navigation there since the war broke out on February 28, and threatened to attack ships passing without permission, while the United States likewise imposes restrictions on vessels connected to Iran. “Economic landing” The diplomatic moves come hours before an expected U.S. announcement of new economic sanctions aimed at Iran and its trading partners. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen? (Treasury Secretary) is expected to outline the measures at a press conference on Monday. In a piece published by the Financial Times, Yellen described the campaign as an “economic landing,” saying it would be the largest financial assault ever marshaled against a rival. Washington has not yet disclosed details of the measures or the list of countries and companies that will be included. But Yellen said the United States would target countries that continue to engage with Iran’s economy and financial system, warning of what she called a policy of “buying off” Iran. U.S. statements indicate the campaign will rely heavily on secondary sanctions, targeting companies and institutions outside Iran that do business with it, rather than restricting to additional sanctions on Iranian entities alone. Former President Donald Trump’s administration urged other countries, including China, to join efforts to isolate Iran economically. China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, has managed to keep export flows flowing as Tehran, despite U.S. sanctions and a naval blockade, continues to ship part of its output through what is known as the “shadow fleet” of tankers. Beijing rejected U.S. calls, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin saying that “sanctions and pressure do not help solve the problem,” urging parties to resolve the crisis politically and diplomatically. Iran: “Economic war” is a warfighting action Separately, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani? said, “If the economic war continues, not a drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Hormuz Strait nor from anywhere in the Gulf.” He added that Iran would consider any country participating in U.S. economic measures or backing them as taking “an act of war.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif described the American threat of new sanctions as evidence of “despair,” saying the policy would fail and urging the United States to deal with Tehran “with respect” if it wants a negotiated solution. As domestic pressure grows, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi acknowledged on Sunday that Iranian society faces “many problems,” and that his government is trying to prevent a deterioration of the situation as the country faces the effects of war, sanctions, a weaker currency, rising inflation, and energy shortages. The Iranian economy was already struggling before the war due to chronic sanctions, high inflation, a weak currency, structural problems, and energy shortages. Since February, infrastructure damage and disrupted trade, loss of some production, and reconstruction costs have added to the burden. The rial hit record lows against the dollar on the unofficial market, according to Reuters. Markets await Latest shipping data show that ship traffic through the Hormuz Strait remains well below normal levels. Kepler data showed 17 ships carrying goods through the strait over the weekend, including four on Sunday and 13 on Saturday, compared with 16 on Friday. Actual figures may be higher, as some ships switched off AIS while transiting. Among the observed movements, two enormous empty crude carriers entered the Gulf on Friday, one toward Iraq and the other to Bahrain, while on Thursday a giant tanker carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi Basra crude passed through. Eight large LNG carriers also transited the strait over three days, six of which entered the Gulf empty, while two carried liquefied petroleum gas loaded from Iran. The British Maritime Trade Operations authority said AIS-tracked vessel movements remained about 90% below pre-conflict levels. During the seven days ending August 21, the watchdog logged 103 ships entering the strait and 89 exiting, noting that oil and oil products tankers and chemical tankers make up the bulk of remaining traffic. The agency also logged 23 incidents since July 6 in which vessels were struck by projectiles, causing damage to hulls, engines, and structures. Also, traffic through the Bab al-Mandab remained unsettled. Kepler data showed 24 ships carrying goods crossing on Sunday, versus 32 on Saturday and 22 on Friday, while two giant oil tankers passed into the Red Sea on Saturday, one carrying Iraqi Basra crude. Oil prices slipped in Asia trading Monday as investors awaited details of the new U.S. sanctions. Brent crude fell by more than a dollar to around $93 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate eased to about $86, after both benchmarks rose more than 5% last week. Markets remain wary of the sanctions’ impact on Iran’s exports and the potential for Tehran to react by tightening restrictions in the Hormuz or targeting energy facilities and shipments in the region. Despite talk of improving crude flows through the strait, ship-tracking data show a large gap between American official estimates and observed movement. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Brown? (Chris Wray) said crude flows neared pre-war levels of about 15 million barrels per day, while ship-tracking data indicated around 5 million bpd.

Big News Network.com Prince Harry, others must pay £9.54 million in legal costs Hong Kong convicts two pro-democracy activists Iran warns of crushing response to U.S. threats Israel to probe killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab by in 2024 Araghchi dismisses Trump's sanctions threat as "old bullying tactic", says "we know how to deal with it" !Araghchi dismisses Trump's sanctions threat as "old bullying tactic", says "we know how to deal with it" Tehran [Iran], August 23 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday dismissed renewed US threats of economic sanctions as a 'recurring scenario,' stating that Washington has no choice but to speak respectfully to the Iranian nation. According to state broadcaster IRIB, speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony, Araghchi said that Washington's resort to economic pressure demonstrates desperation following failed measures. 'America has no choice but to speak respectfully to the Iranian people,' Araghchi declared in comments broadcast by IRIB. Rebuffing claims of new American economic manoeuvres, Araghchi described Washington's approach as a familiar routine that Tehran is fully prepared to counter. 'The economic operation that Trump claims is a recurring scenario and the same old bullying in American politics. In a sense, it is a recurring movie that we have watched many times and we know how to deal with it,' IRIB cited him as saying. Araghchi emphasised that Washington's return to economic pressure tactics highlights its inability to counter Iran's national resilience: 'The fact that they have returned to the same old plans after the military operations and the fact that we are doing this and that shows that they are desperate. They cannot think of any solution against the great nation of Iran and they are constantly putting repetitive plans into action,' he said. According to IRIB, the Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated that the Islamic Republic remains undeterred by sanctions campaigns, maintaining that Washington's repeated reliance on coercive policies yields no results against the Iranian populace. His remarks came after Trump announced what he called an 'Economic D-Day' campaign against Iran, describing it as the 'most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.' Trump said the campaign would amount to 'Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale' and called on US allies to join Washington in isolating Iran. In response, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Saturday slammed Trump's latest economic pressure campaign, saying the country's experience shows that economic pressure cannot alter the Iranian people's resolve and instead produces the opposite result. In a post on X, Aref said the Iranian government would not allow US 'economic terrorism' to undermine the country's economic stability and people's livelihoods. 'The government will not allow America's economic terrorism to target the economic stability and livelihoods of the people. The experience of the Islamic Revolution has shown that economic pressure is incapable of altering the will of the Iranian nation and instead yields the opposite result,' the post read. Iranian officials maintain that previous US sanctions strategies failed to force Iran to alter its course and argue that further economic pressure would produce the opposite effect. (ANI) Shares !facebook sharing button Share !twitter sharing button Post !reddit sharing button Share !flipboard sharing button Flip !email sharing button Email Araghchi dismisses Trump's sanctions threat as "old bullying tactic", says "we know how to deal with it" Araghchi dismisses Trump's sanctions threat as "old bullying tactic", says "we know how to deal with it" ANI 24th August 2026, 01:59 GMT+11 !Araghchi dismisses Trump's sanctions threat as "old bullying tactic", says "we know how to deal with it" !Araghchi dismisses Trump's sanctions threat as "old bullying tactic", says "we know how to deal with it" Tehran [Iran], August 23 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday dismissed renewed US threats of economic sanctions as a 'recurring scenario,' stating that Washington has no choice but to speak respectfully to the Iranian nation. According to state broadcaster IRIB, speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony, Araghchi said that Washington's resort to economic pressure demonstrates desperation following failed measures. 'America has no choice but to speak respectfully to the Iranian people,' Araghchi declared in comments broadcast by IRIB. Rebuffing claims of new American economic manoeuvres, Araghchi described Washington's approach as a familiar routine that Tehran is fully prepared to counter. 'The economic operation that Trump claims is a recurring scenario and the same old bullying in American politics. In a sense, it is a recurring movie that we have watched many times and we know how to deal with it,' IRIB cited him as saying. Araghchi emphasised that Washington's return to economic pressure tactics highlights its inability to counter Iran's national resilience: 'The fact that they have returned to the same old plans after the military operations and the fact that we are doing this and that shows that they are desperate. They cannot think of any solution against the great nation of Iran and they are constantly putting repetitive plans into action,' he said. According to IRIB, the Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated that the Islamic Republic remains undeterred by sanctions campaigns, maintaining that Washington's repeated reliance on coercive policies yields no results against the Iranian populace. His remarks came after Trump announced what he called an 'Economic D-Day' campaign against Iran, describing it as the 'most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.' Trump said the campaign would amount to 'Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale' and called on US allies to join Washington in isolating Iran. In response, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Saturday slammed Trump's latest economic pressure campaign, saying the country's experience shows that economic pressure cannot alter the Iranian people's resolve and instead produces the opposite result. In a post on X, Aref said the Iranian government would not allow US 'economic terrorism' to undermine the country's economic stability and people's livelihoods. 'The government will not allow America's economic terrorism to target the economic stability and livelihoods of the people. The experience of the Islamic Revolution has shown that economic pressure is incapable of altering the will of the Iranian nation and instead yields the opposite result,' the post read. Iranian officials maintain that previous US sanctions strategies failed to force Iran to alter its course and argue that further economic pressure would produce the opposite effect. (ANI) Read This Next Trump to temporarily ease US beef tariffs to lower prices Tesla leads record 4.3 million-vehicle recall in China Dutch regulator fines Uber $966 million over driver suspensions TikTok, US reach $400 million children's privacy settlement Saudi Aramco sells 4 million barrels loading outside Hormuz Big News Network ASSOCIATES BIG NEWS NETWORK.COM About us Contact & Support Terms & Conditions Sitemap PRODUCTS & SERVICES News Releases Newsletter Archive FOLLOW US RSS Feeds Copyright © 1998-2025 Big News Network All rights reserved.

IMPORTANT POINTS: - Secretary Scott Bessent announces a historic package of punitive measures to financially isolate Tehran in 2026. - The White House demands immediate cessation of commerce from its global allies under warning of severe economic penalties. - Iranian military authorities dismiss the economic campaign, saying they will maintain trade ties and disruption capacity in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent will hold a press conference this Monday to announce a sanctions package against Iran, described by the official as the largest campaign of "The largest coordinated economic isolation campaign in the history of the world. At dawn, an economic D-Day begins, the largest financial offensive ever deployed against an adversary". Stated Scott Bessent in a Sunday opinion piece published in international financial press. Treasury Department offensive and ultimatum to international allies From Washington, the Treasury secretary previously stated that the United States will provoke the Islamic Republic’s financial collapse through the "most severe sanctions in history". In its guidelines, the administration led by Donald Trump requires American allies and the rest of the international community to suspend any commercial relationship with Iran, warning that the government will use all its power against those who fail to comply with the guidelines. "We are addressing them to tell them that either you are with us or you are against us. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision, and we are going to crush this regime’s economy." Scott Bessent told reporters. This press conference comes after Donald Trump anticipated last week that the country would execute the "most devastating economic operation ever applied against any nation." Alongside, the president also threatened with severe financial penalties against any state that cooperates in evading sanctions, adding on social media that "This will constitute an economic war and an isolation on an unprecedented scale." Sanctions measures and risk factors in the Middle East - Official announcement from the Treasury Department: The US administration will formalize the financial sanctions package this Monday. - Scope of international restrictions: The government demands a total global commercial break with Tehran. - Response from the Revolutionary Guards: The military establishment states it will maintain its bilateral economic agreements. - Logistical risk in the Strait of Hormuz: RBC Capital Markets warns about disruption capacity on maritime routes. Iran’s response and impact assessment on the oil market Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed the American warnings through state media, assuring a spokesman that Iran has mechanisms “to counteract the adverse effects of the enemy’s war” and that it can easily establish trade ties with other countries. "The American president says he ordered an economic war and launched the harshest campaign against Iran. This constitutes an implicit admission of the humiliating defeat of the enemy on the military ground" said the Iranian military spokesman. Iran positions itself as one of the most sanctioned nations globally, recalled RBC Capital Markets’ global commodities strategist Helima Croft, who on Friday expressed doubt that increased financial pressure will alter Tehran’s political behavior. Structurally, the analyst noted that Iranian authorities rely on resisting a mandate from an administration seeking a quick end to the conflict, preserving its operational capacity to carry out attacks on crude carriers in the Strait of Hormuz and infrastructure in the Middle East. "Iran retains a significant disruption capacity. The question is how this scenario will be altered by imposing additional economic sanctions," emphasized Helima Croft. FAQs The Treasury Secretary announced the largest coordinated financial isolation offensive in history by imposing severe sanctions to break Tehran’s economy. Consequently, the US administration issued an ultimatum to its allies and the rest of the world, demanding a total suspension of commercial relations under threat of direct penalties. The Iranian military establishment dismissed Washington’s measures, assuring that the country has enough mechanisms to sidestep pressure and establish trade alliances with other international partners. Moreover, armed commanders described this isolation campaign as an implicit admission of the United States’ strategic failure on the military ground. RBC Capital Markets analysts doubt that greater financial strangulation will alter the political conduct of a regime accustomed to operating under extreme international sanctions. Consequently, Tehran will maintain its operational capacity to destabilize crude transport and threaten the transit of oil carriers through the Strait of Hormuz. Disclaimer: All information found on Bitfinanzas is provided with best intentions; it does not constitute investment advice and is for informational purposes only. Always remember to conduct your own research.

ARCHIVE – Women walk past a portrait of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, as well as images of the Iranian flag, in the city center. Photo: Vahid Salemi/AP/dpa/File photo Keystone Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf has warned the U.S. of a boomerang effect in light of Washington’s planned tougher sanctions against the Islamic Republic. On the platform X, he shared a cartoon suggesting that the economic war announced by Washington would backfire on the U.S. itself. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he intended to drastically increase economic pressure on Iran. He spoke of an “economic D-Day” for Iran. He also threatened Tehran’s supporters with draconian measures. Trump did not initially provide details about his plans. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans to provide information about the initiative at a press conference on Monday and spoke of the “toughest sanctions in history” that the U.S. intends to impose. Iranian state media had reacted calmly to Trump’s announcement. The U.S. has been trying for years to cut off all financial and economic ties with Iran, the Tasnim news agency reported, for example. Iran, however, has “learned to circumvent these restrictions and has become very adept at doing so.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made similar remarks on Sunday. He said economic warfare was a recurring pattern and part of Washington’s long-standing intimidation tactics. Iran has learned to deal with it, he added. Despite the sophisticated system designed to circumvent sanctions, Iran's economic development has been under immense pressure for years. The population is suffering from a sharp rise in inflation. On Saturday, the new head of Iran's National Security Council, Mohsen Resai, also threatened Iran's oil-rich neighbors not to take part in an economic war against Iran. He said on state television that anyone who did so would be considered an enemy and that not a single drop of oil would pass through the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. Treasury secretary unveils new sanctions against Iran and its trading partners Bolsamania Reading time: 7 minutes The so-called Economic Day has arrived, declared by the American president, Donald Trump. This Monday, the United States will reveal new economic sanctions against Iran and its trading partners aimed at increasing economic pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will provide more details at a press conference about what he has described as "the largest financial offensive ever organized against an adversary." "President Trump has dismantled Iran's military capabilities, destroyed almost one hundred percent of its military factories, and buried its nuclear program. Now we are entering the final phase. At dawn begins an economic Day D—the largest financial offensive ever organized against a foe." That is what he published on social media, in a message in which he adds that "the president has created the conditions to leverage every agency, every authority, and action that many assumed we would never convene. Our objective is to cut every vital economic line that sustains the regime’s tyranny until Tehran is left isolated." He also wrote that "the Islamic Republic has endured by disguising extortion as security guarantees. It has drawn strength from a calculation that Iranian retaliation is certain and that the application of the law by the U.S. is negotiable. Under President Trump, that era is over. Anyone who fears the danger of defying Tehran should not underestimate the cost of testing Washington." Last week, Trump already threatened with the "most crushing economic operation ever embarked upon against any country" against Iran, saying that "this will be an economic war and an isolation on an unprecedented scale." He also warned that "any country that allows its financial institutions, companies, airports, or government entities to provide any kind of aid to Iran will face tremendous economic consequences." The new measures will add to an extensive sanctions regime affecting Iran’s banking, energy, aerospace, and cryptocurrency sectors, which has warned its Gulf neighbors not to join the U.S. economic measures and reinforcing its control over that strategic point. Moreover, Iran has been preparing for the sanctions for days. "If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from any point in the Persian Gulf," said Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, stating that "Iran will consider participation or support by any country in the U.S. economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war." What do analysts expect? ING believes the possible steps Bessent will announce "include a potential symbolic blow to Iran’s economy and perhaps some type of fiscal consolidation plan in the United States, promised after the tension seen in the Treasury bond market last week." "Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain a central theme as Washington prepares to announce new sanctions against Iran’s trading partners. Bessent described these measures as an 'economic Day D,' while Iran has warned there will be no oil production in the Gulf if the economic war continues. While direct military attacks have subsided in recent weeks, the lack of meaningful negotiations reduces the prospects for a short-term deal," note Danske Bank. Rabobank comments that "Iran has also stated that any country joining the new U.S. sanctions would be considered an enemy. Yes, the Iranian president (without power) said the memorandum of understanding with the U.S. remains the best way out of this mess, as the Pakistani army chief will visit Tehran again today. On the other hand, Iran also says that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan invited it to join their new defense pact, which failed in its attempt to defend the Saudis from the Houthi attacks instigated by Iran." "Markets have heard numerous threats during this conflict and have learned not to pay the full price until oil stops circulating. But if the price of oil rises sharply, Washington’s problem becomes more complicated. More expensive crude would directly feed inflation expectations, push harder on the long end of the Treasury yield curve, and significantly hinder the Fed’s work. The dollar could gain in the early session on fear, only to lose in later rounds as the market resumes its devaluation strategy. That is the trap," says Stephen Innes, head of SPI Asset Management.

Madrid The Secretary of the National Security Council of Iran, Mohsen Rezaei, has warned that Tehran will respond against the interests of neighboring countries that decide to back the economic pressure campaign driven by the United States against the country. These statements come after the U.S. president, Donald Trump, announced mid-week the launch of an "economic operation" against Iran, an initiative he presented as a process of "isolation on an unprecedented scale" and for which he urged his allies to lend support. "If the countries surrounding Iran join the United States in its economic war against Tehran, we will attack their interests," Rezaei warned, according to remarks reported by the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. The Iranian leader also warned that if regional countries cooperate with Washington, Tehran will prevent oil from leaving through the Persian Gulf and will also act against other routes used to export crude from the area. Rezaei added that Iranian authorities are prepared to take action against American oil companies and other firms with interests in the Middle East, thereby raising the tone of the warnings directed at Washington and its allies. The threat unfolds in a context of rising tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. On February 28 of this year, U.S. and Israeli forces conducted coordinated new attacks on Iranian territory, just two days after the conclusion of the third round of discussions on the nuclear program held in Switzerland. In mid-June, the two attacking powers reached a memorandum aimed at stopping hostilities. However, President Trump stated on July 8 that the ceasefire had become null and void, after which both countries again exchanged attacks. Since then, Washington and Tehran have maintained indirect contacts with the mediation of several Middle Eastern countries in an attempt to reach a new agreement that would end hostilities and establish the conditions for a negotiated exit from the conflict.

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What to know about the Iran war today: - The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezai, said that any country joining the U.S. in sanctions as part of President Trump's attempt to pressure the country's economy would be considered an enemy. - Egypt's foreign minister spoke to his Iranian counterpart by phone on Saturday in an effort to restart negotiations to end the war. - Iran permitted some Iraqi oil tankers to transit through the Strait of Hormuz after repeated requests from Baghdad, according to state media reports on Saturday. Iran finds new natural gas as war hits energy sector Iran said on Sunday it had discovered more than 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas, months into the Middle East war that has hit the country's energy infrastructure and production. "New gas reserves were discovered in the south of Fars province," Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad told state television, adding that over 160 billion cubic metres could be extracted from the field. He described it as sweet natural gas, which has very little of the toxic gas hydrogen sulphide, resulting in lower operating and development costs. According to Bloomberg, any new production from the site would likely be years away. Iran's energy sector has taken a hit since joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic launched the Middle East war in late February. The countries have struck Iran's energy infrastructure, such as gas production facilities or oil depots, as well as transport routes. Iran's president defends memorandum of understanding as best path forward Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended the memorandum of understanding signed with the U.S. in June as the best way for the country to move beyond what he described as a situation of "neither war nor peace." In a speech published by state-run IRNA news agency early on Sunday, he said members of Iran's Supreme National Security Council believed the agreement represented the best possible agreement based on what he described as dignity, wisdom and the national interest. "There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation," Pezeshkian said. "The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path." The deal known as the Memorandum of Understanding that U.S. President Trump signed in June set an ambitious 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran and reaching an accord on its nuclear program. That period ended last week, after weeks of months of stalled progress and flare-ups, with both sides declaring they had abandoned the deal. There currently appears to be no signs of compromise on the crucial issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, vital to global shipping. CBS/AP Iran's president acknowledges citizens face "many problems" Iran's president acknowledged on Sunday that his country's citizens face "many problems", after the United States launched a new wave of sanctions seeking to further isolate its economy. "I understand we have many problems in society right now. We are trying to prevent these as much as we can," Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state television. His comments came after the United States vowed last week to bring about the "collapse" of the Iranian regime through a newly announced sanctions campaign, nearly six months after the start of their war. In his response, Pezeshkian said that, thanks to US President Donald Trump, Iran was "in a full-scale economic, military and security war". "He says he is imposing the most crushing and terrifying sanctions on Iran," Pezeshkian said. Pakistan's army chief will visit Tehran, Iran's foreign ministry says Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baghaei said Sunday that Pakistan's army chief will visit Tehran on Monday. Baghaei said the visit is in line with "strengthening Iran-Pakistan bilateral cooperation" and continuing both countries' efforts "to help strengthen peace and security in the region." Pakistani mediators played a key role in the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in June, which is often referred to as the Islamabad memorandum. Iran executes man accused of carrying chainsaw during January protests Iran on Sunday executed a man accused of carrying a chainsaw during January anti-government protests who was charged with acting as an agent of Israel and the United States. The judiciary said Majid Adineh had been convicted of "operational action in favour of hostile groups" in nationwide rallies that broke out late last year. He is one of a string of people put to death over the protests, which were sparked by economic hardships in Iran. Adineh was accused of "deliberate arson, gathering and collusion with the intention of committing crimes against the country's internal security", the judiciary's Mizan Online website said in a report Sunday. The protest movement was initially sparked in late December by grievances over high living costs but rapidly evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9. Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths from the unrest, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people last year, a record high since 1989, according to Iran Human Rights, an NGO based in Norway, and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), which is headquartered in Paris. According to Amnesty International, Iran conducts the second most executions of any country, after China. Iranian hackers reportedly shut down power plant in the U.K. Iranian hackers were able to shut down a power plant in the U.K. for four days in an unprecedented attack, British newspaper The Telegraph reported. The incident reportedly took place at the same time as water infrastructure systems in the U.S. were being targeted by cyberattacks earlier in the month too. Sources familiar with the matter at the time told CBS News Iran-backed hackers may have been linked. The Telegraph reported that the facility affected was shut down for four days but the outage had no impact on the country's electricity supply. British officials would not name the facility in question, the newspaper said. Syria says Israeli drone hit small village An Israeli drone strike on a vehicle wounded one person on Saturday in the southwestern Syrian village of Beit Jin, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. Syria's foreign ministry said several civilians were injured and called the strike a flagrant violation of the country's sovereignty. The Israeli military said it targeted a "terrorist who advanced terror attacks in final stages of preparation," without elaborating. It wasn't immediately clear if it was the same strike. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes around Syria after the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in late 2024, mainly destroying army assets to keep them out of the hands of his successors. Iran says any country joining U.S. sanctions considered "enemy" Iran on Saturday warned countries against participating in the United States' "economic war" against the Islamic republic, saying they would be considered enemies. "We declare to all countries ... do not join the economic war waged by the United States. Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy," said Mohsen Rezai, the head of Iran's supreme national security council, on state television. If the countries concerned refused to "distance themselves" from the United States, Iran would "harm" their interests, he added. Rezai also insisted Iran had more cards to play in the war, claiming, "We have not yet attacked any American economic interests." President Trump said earlier this week the U.S. will enforce "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale." But he also called on the rest of the world to come to the aid of the U.S. in enforcing sanctions, the specifics of which have still not been announced. "This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat," Mr. Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. These maniacs are on the ropes, and these HISTORIC MEASURES will cripple them and their ability to project terror worldwide." At least one major country has already spurned that demand. China, Iran's largest trade partner, said it opposes "illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council." CBS/AFP Egypt tries to revive U.S.-Iran negotiations The top diplomats for Egypt and Iran discussed efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to the negotiating table to settle the war, Egypt's foreign ministry said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty also discussed the Iranian-Omani talks on the management of the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said. "The call addressed the overall current situation in the region, and the efforts made to create an atmosphere conducive to achieving de-escalation and a return to the diplomatic track, whether in terms of the negotiations between Oman and Iran or the return to implementing the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran on June 18," Egypt's foreign ministry said. Araghchi briefed Egypt's foreign minister about "Iran's view of ongoing developments, the course of negotiations and their challenges," the ministry said, without elaborating. There was no immediate statement from Araghchi. CBS/AP Iranian politician threatens Gulf allies of U.S., "shouldn't complain" if they become targets The threats of attacks on allies of the U.S. in the Gulf region continued on Saturday with a prominent politician making the case for them as legitimate targets. "It has been reported that American enemy aircraft and fuel tankers are present at airports in Qatar, Kuwait, the Emirates, and beyond," Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesman for Iran's Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, said on X. "They have turned their homes into enemy bunkers." "They shouldn't complain later," he added. Iran has repeatedly argued any country that assists the U.S. in its attacks will be targeted in retaliation for U.S. strikes. Kuwait, specifically, has repeatedly come under attack, including one in the early days of the war at an operations center.Last month, in an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.6 EU countries urge windfall tax on oil companies amid skyrocketing profits during war Six EU countries are stepping up calls for a bloc-wide windfall tax on oil companies as profits soar due to the Middle East war, according to a letter seen by AFP Saturday. The finance ministers of Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland and Portugal, along with Spain's economy minister, sent the joint letter to Ireland's finance minister. Ireland currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, and the ministers urged the issue of a levy be put on the agenda at a meeting of the bloc's finance chiefs in Dublin next month. "Oil companies are enjoying overall profitability and margins on refined products that exceed the rise in crude oil prices," it read. "We are experiencing one of the biggest supply shocks in decades, and all over the world there is growing discontent about the rise in the cost of living." German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has repeatedly stressed that energy companies must not "rip off" consumers during the current crisis, a ministry source told AFP. "Excessive crisis profits must be returned to consumers," said the source. French president and Saudi crown prince will meet to discuss Strait of Hormuz French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss the effects of the Strait of Hormuz closure and plans to develop routes around the waterway during the Saudi leader's two-day visit to Paris beginning Sunday, according to officials in the presidency who weren't authorized to be publicly named. Proposals under consideration include increasing trade through Omani ports outside the Persian Gulf, expanding or doubling pipelines in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, and developing new rail links, the officials said. France and Saudi Arabia have formed a task force on energy and logistics connections between the Middle East and Europe that is scheduled to meet at the ministerial level Monday. The officials said the work was well advanced and would focus on identifying the most strategic projects, securing financing and establishing roles for French companies. The visit will be the crown prince's first trip abroad since he traveled to Washington in November 2025, according to the officials. Iran's neighbors asked about reshaping "security arrangements," says Tehran's parliament speaker Iran's parliament speaker said Saturday the country had received "numerous messages" from neighboring countries about "reshaping new security arrangements and economic cooperation in the region." In a social media post, Mohammad Ghalibaf said: "The United States put the security of every single one of its allies at such risk through bullying and pure disregard for their interests for the sake of Israel that they briefly saw their entire existence on the line." Various Gulf states are allies of the United States and host American military bases which have been targeted by Tehran in retaliatory strikes throughout the war. Iran says world has accepted it has defeated U.S. Iranian state media reported Friday that President Masoud Pezeshkian said the war with the U.S. should end since the world has already accepted that Iran has won. "The entire world approved our victory and the U.S. is hated," he said, according to state-owned IRNA news agency. The remarks came as the Trump administration is touting a crushing financial campaign against Iran, promising an "economic D-Day" against the country. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would be imposing an "unprecedented" level of economic warfare and isolation on Iran, aiming to force its leadership to cave to demands to end its nuclear program and fully reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers. New U.S. sanctions on Iran amount to an attack on every UN state, says Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson compared new U.S. sanctions to a return to "full scale classic colonialism." In a social media post, Esmaeil Baghaei said the new economic sanctions on Iran are "far more" than economic warfare against his country, and that it amounted to "an assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty of every independent member of the United Nations." Baghaei said combined with military "aggression," economic coercion forces a state to alter its policies and therefore removes its sovereignty. "The end result would be the complete erosion of sovereignty as the foundational basis of the UN-based inter-State system, and a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism," the spokesperson said. Iran grants permission for Iraqi oil tankers to transit Strait of Hormuz A number of Iraqi oil tankers have been granted permission by Iran to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, according Reuters news agency, quoting Iran's state news agency IRNA. According to IRNA, the special permission was one of Baghdad's main requests during the Iranian parliament speaker's visit to Iraq last week. South Korea to send first container ship through Arctic route South Korea was set Saturday to send its first trial container through the Arctic, as the Middle East war rattles global shipping, while environmental groups warned the route could accelerate polar ice melt. Sailing from Busan New Port, the the "PanStar Acro" container

Skip Navigation Markets Business Investing Tech Politics & Policy Video Watchlist Investing Club !Join IC PRO !Join Pro Livestream Menu !Bessent vows ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran, warns allies watch now ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email Squawk Box Europe Bessent vows ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran, warns allies U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Washington will "collapse" the Iranian regime amid a ramp-up of its economic pressure campaign - warning the rest of the world "you are either with us or against us." CNBC's Dan Murphy reports from Abu Dhabi. 05:52 Fri, Aug 21 20263:55 AM EDT

Iran maintained its harsh rhetoric Saturday against the U.S.' plans to impose tough new sanctions. "The United States' declaration of new economic sanctions on Iran is far more than continued unlawful 'economic warfare' against a single country," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a post on X. "It is an assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent Member State of the United Nations." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that the Trump administration's plan to crush Iran's economy will likely negate the need for major U.S. military operations against the Islamic Republic. Bessent vowed that the U.S. will create "the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world" against Iran. He said he will hold a news conference on Monday to "talk about exactly what we're going to do." In a preview of the plan, he said that the U.S. will be telling all of its allies, "You are either with us or against us." Vice President JD Vance said economic pressure is the United States' "most effective tool" against Iran. Speaking on a podcast, Vance said that the move was "a delicate dance" as both sides apply pressure to each other, but added that "what has been true over the last couple of weeks is they felt a lot more pressure than we have." Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told an event in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Friday that Muslim countries must make a plan to overcome "cruel" sanctions, according to a government summary of his comments. The comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will launch what he called the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country" against Iran. Trump also threatened severe financial penalties on any nation that helps Tehran evade sanctions, and added that "this will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale." While both sides have held off attacking one another's targets in recent days, shipping through the economically crucial Strait of Hormuz remains a fraction of its levels before the U.S. launched its war against Iran on Feb. 28. Negotiations to reopen the strait have stalled. Recently observed ship traffic through Hormuz has remained low, with 10 crossings on Monday and two transits on Sunday, according to data provided by the trade intelligence firm Kpler. Oil prices were little changed Friday after Iran's president indicated that Tehran wants the war with the U.S. to end sooner rather than later. Brent crude futures added 61 cents to close at $94.39 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 23 cents to $87.06. Oil prices finished the week more than 5% higher after Bessent's comments. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described his country's memorandum of understanding with the U.S. signed on June 17 as a victory for the Islamic Republic. Pezeshkian said "it is better to end the war today" when Iran is "in a position of power and dignity," according to the state news agency PressTV. The MOU allowed Tehran to determine how the Strait of Hormuz would be administered through negotiations with Oman and the other Gulf states. One analyst questioned the effectiveness of the new round of economic penalties. Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets said Iran is already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. It is not clear whether the U.S. will go after China and Russia who are partners of Iran, Croft told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." The question is whether more sanctions will change Iran's behavior, Croft said. Tehran appears to believe that it can outlast the U.S., she said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a press conference Monday to announce sanctions against Iran that he described to CNBC as the greatest campaign of "coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world." "At dawn begins an economic D-Day — the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary," Bessent said in an opinion piece he authored in The Financial Times on Sunday. The Teasury Secretary told CNBC on Thursday that the U.S. will "collapse" the Islamic Republic with the "toughest sanctions in history." The Trump administration demands that U.S. allies and the rest of the world stop doing business with Iran, Bessent said. The U.S. will use its "full might" against anyone who does not comply, he told CNBC. "We are going to them and saying you are either with us or against us," Bessent told CNBC. "It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision, and we are going to squash the economy of this murderous regime." Bessent's press conference comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that the U.S. will target Iran with the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country." Trump also threatened severe financial penalties against any nation that helps Iran evade sanctions, adding in a post on Truth Social that "this will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has dismissed the Trump administration's threats, according to its state media. An IRGC spokesperson said Sunday that Iran has ways "to counter the adverse effects of the enemy's war" and that it can "easily establish economic relations with countries." "The U.S. president says that he ordered an economic war and launched the most severe economic campaign against Iran. This amounts to an implicit admission of the enemy's humiliating defeat in the military arena," the IRGC spokesperson said, according to state media. Iran is one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, said Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. It is unclear whether more economic pressure will change Tehran's behavior, Croft told CNBC in an interview Friday. Iran seems to believe that it can outlast a Trump administration that wants the war to end quickly, she said. Tehran still has the ability to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz and infrastructure in the Middle East, the analyst said. "Iran still has significant disruptive capabilities," Croft said. "The question is how is this going to change with additional economic sanctions."

The U.S will unveil "the single greatest financial offensive ever" against Iran on Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, while Tehran threatened to seize vessels that violate transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz. The looming escalation comes as both sides missed a 60-day ceasefire window to reach a deal, closing off the formal truce mechanism aimed at ending the Middle East war now in its sixth month. In a post on X on Sunday evening stateside, Bessent said "at dawn begins an economic D-Day," framing the coming measures as the "endgame" for Washington's campaign against Tehran. The new measures will add to an extensive sanctions regime already targeting Iran's banking, energy, aviation and cryptocurrency sectors. The Trump administration has claimed that Iran's economy is in freefall, with runaway inflation and a collapsing currency. While little is known about the specifics of new economic sanctions, the Iranian rial hit a new open-market low on Sunday, with the dollar surpassing 2 million rials, according to Gulf News. Bessent also warned that "any nation that serves as a financial artery of a withering regime should expect to share in its isolation" — language aimed squarely at foreign governments still transacting with Tehran. He has previously warned of further secondary sanctions on nations and entities that conduct business with Iran. Writing in the Financial Times on Sunday, Bessent added: "Iran's enablers purchase and transport its petroleum. They facilitate the flow of its finances through exchange houses and free trade zones." "They welcome Iran's flights and maintain registries on its behalf," he added. "They turn a blind eye to seaborne fuel transfers and the illicit use of their banks, all while concealing the extent of their complicity." Iran has responded by warning Gulf neighbors against joining U.S. economic measures and tightening its grip on the choke point, through which roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil passed before the war. On Saturday, Mohsen Rezaei, a longtime military commander who became the new secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council earlier this month, vowed to target the interests of oil-rich neighbors if they joined U.S. efforts to further isolate Iran. "Any country that becomes a partner in creating economic restrictions against us will be regarded by us as an enemy," he said in an interview with Iran's state broadcaster. In a series of posts on X on Sunday, Iran's state-controlled Persian Gulf Strait Authority, or PGSA, warned that vessels violating its transit rules in the Hormuz Strait could face penalties, including "fines, seizure, or confiscation" during future passages. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also dismissed the threat of a fresh round of U.S. economic sanctions as a "desperate" ploy, asserting that U.S. actions, like the blockade, were set to fail. Tehran's parliament approved on Sunday a provision stipulating that ships passing through the Hormuz choke point will pay for services provided by Tehran, according to local media reports. The legislation still needs full parliamentary approval. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi is scheduled to visit Tehran on Tuesday for bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart Araghchi, local media reported Monday. Both sides will continue discussions over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. Crude pulled back in Asian trading Monday despite the looming escalation. West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. benchmark, fell about 1.3% to $85.93 per barrel, and Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped 1.3% to $93.22 a barrel. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency reported no confirmed attacks in the strait over the 48 hours to Sunday, though it warned of a "continued risk of drifting or uncharted mines," with mine danger areas still active.

• Economic squeeze: Iran’s top security chief Mohsen Rezaei has vowed to “neutralize the economic war” with the US ahead of ramped-up sanctions on Tehran that the Trump administration is expected to detail Monday. • Hormuz threat: Rezeai also threatened to halt oil flow out of the Strait of Hormuz should any neighboring countries join the US’ economic crackdown. Some oil companies have developed new tactics to enable their tankers to pass undetected through the waterway. • Fractures in Tehran: However, there are signs of growing differences within the Iranian leadership. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran “cannot continue with war forever” and he defended the agreement reached with the US in June, despite the supreme leader’s purported misgivings. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said Sunday that the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target is likely out of reach due to continued hostilities in the Persian Gulf. Consumers have seen price hikes since the US and Israel first struck Iran on February 28. A sharp decline in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has triggered higher oil prices, with Americans paying more at the gas pump. The national average for a gallon of gas was close to $4.10 on Sunday, according to data from AAA, up about 37.5% since the start of the war. Energy prices, which are considerably volatile, were 14.7% higher than a year ago, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in July. While the Consumer Price Index report also revealed that inflation cooled to 3.4%, inflation had reached a three-year high two months earlier. Kashkari noted that Americans have faced persistent inflation since the pandemic. “For five years we have been saying inflation is going to return to target in the next year or two. It just keeps getting pushed out,” Kashkari said. “Eventually, we’re gonna have to do more.” We have one more update on the case of Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery, who this month was sentenced to 15 years in prison after her work was deemed hostile to Tehran. Moaiery, who has spent decades documenting life under the authoritarian Iranian government, appeared in court today briefly as she tries to appeal the verdict, her father, Reza, said. He said it was unclear when a decision would be made and that her lawyer - who was not allowed to speak at the hearing - was not optimistic. She was asked to present her “final defense” which she and her team see as a further sign that her sentence is likely to be upheld. Despite the ongoing case, she told CNN she had no plans to stop her work and welcomed international media coverage. Iran “cannot continue with war forever,” its president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has said amid signs of growing differences within the Iranian leadership over negotiations with the United States. During two appearances in Tehran on Sunday, Pezeshkian defended the memorandum of understanding that Iran reached with the United States in June, despite the purported misgivings of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. “One day, a decision must be made to save the country from the state of ‘neither war nor peace’,” Pezeshkian said. Pezeshkian said that all those who were directly involved in the negotiations believed that the memorandum was the best way forward. “By implementing this memorandum, we can resolve the problems with logic and dignity,” he said, in remarks reported by state news agency IRNA. The agreement collapsed last month. The Iranian president has frequently warned of the economic and social consequences of the conflict with the United States, sometimes putting him at odds with more hardline figures in the leadership. “We must stand with the people. If we cannot serve them and convince them that we all belong to the same land and country, then even if we possess the greatest military power, we will be defeated,” he said Sunday. The government was trying with all its strength to “steer inflation, public problems, people’s livelihoods, people’s jobs, people’s future, and people’s lives towards dignity and pride.” Pezeshkian was joined during one appearance by Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. “Sometimes, a wise compromise can achieve more than hundreds of wars,” Khomeini said. Commentators see a growing debate among the leadership on how to handle the conflict with the United States, with some implying that Iran should now negotiate from a position of strength before its economic crisis worsens further – and hardliners in the security apparatus continuing to reject dialogue. One of the most powerful figures in Iran has said that the US’ campaign of maximum economic pressure will fail. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaei also warned Iran’s neighbors during an interview with Iranian state media that cooperation with the US will prompt Iran to “target their interests.” If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest: - Rezaei further threatened Iran would “not allow a single drop of oil” to flow through the Strait of Hormuz if US collaboration is actioned. - Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, will visit Tehran tomorrow and is expected to hold talks with senior Iranian officials, state media reported. - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is in a “full-scale war,” acknowledging economic difficulties as a ramp up of US sanctions looms. - And UK energy companies are on alert after hackers believed to be affiliated with the Iranian regime temporarily shut down a small-scale energy generator last month. CNN’s Tim Lister, Aida Karimi, Laura Sharman, Xiaoqian Lin and Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting. An Iranian news site has released undated footage of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since he was appointed to the role following his father’s death earlier this year. The short clip of what is likely archive footage released by the Rokna news site shows Mojtaba sitting at a table, reviewing documents and appearing to engage in conversation. It’s unclear who he is speaking to. Earlier this month, Iranian state media shared another undated video of Mojtaba giving a religious lesson to a group of men, apparently taken before the war. Iran has released statements attributed to Mojtaba, but the leader’s absence from public life has raised questions about his health and physical condition. It is understood that he sustained serious injuries in the US-Israeli attack that killed his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the conflict. Speculation about the extent of Mojtaba’s injuries was further fuelled by his apparent absence from his father’s funeral events last month. Iran has insisted that security considerations are the primary reason for Mojtaba’s failure to appear publicly. British energy companies are on alert after hackers believed to be affiliated with the Iranian regime temporarily shut down a small-scale energy generator last month, The Sunday Telegraph reported. The plant, which has not been identified for security reasons, was forced to close for four days because of the infiltration, the report said. Britain’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has written to energy companies with advice in response to the attack. On Sunday, a government spokesperson said Britain’s energy system was “highly resilient” and stressed the attack had posed no threat to the wider system. Iran has long been accused of carrying out cyber-attacks that have caused power outages and breached sensitive government data globally, including by Turkey in 2015, and Israel in 2022. The head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre revealed earlier this year that three-quarters of cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure could be traced back to hostile state actors. More now from the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, in his interview with Iranian state media. Rezaei had an uncompromising message for Iran’s neighbors. “If they start such an action, we will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Persian Gulf.” He also threatened that Iran would target alternative routes used to export oil from the Gulf. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expanded such routes to export their oil via ports in the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman. Rezaei has essentially presented an ultimatum to the Gulf states that participation in US economic pressure could increasingly be treated by Tehran as part of the broader confrontation, according to analyst Hamidreza Azizi at the Clingendael Institute in the Netherlands. “There appear to be two distinct elements to the emerging doctrine: preemption, aimed at preventing a perceived threat from materializing; and disproportionate retaliation, aimed at raising the cost of any attack that does occur,” Azizi noted in a post on X. Azizi also hinted at different approaches being taken within Iran to the increasing US pressure and Trump’s economic warfare. One of the most powerful figures in Iran has said that the US campaign of maximum economic pressure will fail — in a further sign that Iran’s hardline leadership is unwilling to compromise despite a deepening economic crisis. Rezaei’s remarks are another indication of the control exerted by Tehran’s hardliners and their growing readiness to adopt a more offensive posture. “We will see changes in the conduct of the war, in diplomacy, and in political and social affairs, and new capabilities will be brought into play,” he added. Rezaei, who is an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamanei, said Iran will not yield to US pressure, adding the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington meets its commitments. Shipping data suggests that more crude oil is leaving the Gulf via a southern route close to the coast with Oman, a threat to the leverage Iran has exercised in recent months. Rezaei was a senior commander during the war with Iraq in the 1980s — a foundational moment in the creation of the Islamic Republic. He was named as the new security chief this month in what was seen as a shift to a more aggressive approach to that under the late supreme leader. In his comments, the most substantial since taking on the new role, Rezaei also claimed the US’ attack on Iran had encouraged countries to seek protection by acquiring nuclear weapons. Around 35 million years ago, the Arabian tectonic plate began colliding with its Eurasian counterpart. This caused the prehistoric Tethys Ocean, which once separated the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana, to shrink. Laurasia would later morph into North America, Europe and parts of Asia, while Gondwana fragmented into South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia and India. But the ancient sea did not disappear entirely, for a remnant of it survives today, in the form of the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say the geological process that created the critical waterway — the flashpoint in the US’ war with Iran – is the very same process which gave the region its oil riches in the first place. According to National Geographic, as the Arabian plate began to move further under the Eurasian plate, the two plates crumpled together, creating the Zagros Mountains — an impressive stretch of peaks that still exist in Iran. The weight of these mountains depressed part of the Arabian plate, causing the strait to form. For hundreds of millions of years before the Arabian plate collided into Eurasia, it sat below sea level, providing the perfect environment for crude oil to form, according to National Geographic. That is because when animals and plants in marine environments die, their remains fall to the bottom of the seabed, slotting between layers of silt and sand. Then, over millions of years and under intense heat and pressure, these remains morph into what we call crude oil. “You can have the most powerful military the world has ever seen but standing in its way will be nature,” said Tim Marshall, author of best-selling book “Prisoners of Geography,” testifying to the strategic importance of the strait. “No wonder the Assyrians called the Persian Gulf ‘The Bitter Sea’,” he wrote in March. As we’ve been reporting, Iran’s security chief has threatened to halt oil flow out of the Strait of Hormuz, according to state-affiliated Press TV. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, threatened to shut down all traffic through the critical waterway should any neighboring countries enter the US’ expected economic crackdown. A narrow waterway that bypasses Iran and Oman, the Strait of Hormuz is the main route for shipping crude from oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the rest of the world. The strait has remained a major flashpoint since it was effectively closed by Tehran following airstrikes by the US and Israel on February 28. Iran controls the strait’s northern side. About 20 million barrels of oil, or about one-fifth of daily global production, used to flow through the strait every day, according to the US Energy Information Administration, which calls the channel a “critical oil chokepoint.” The strait also carries about one-fifth of global trade in liquefied natural gas, largely from Qatar. Some producers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have found alternative routes for their exports. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, will visit Tehran on Monday, according to Iranian state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), which cited Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. Munir is expected to hold talks with senior Iranian officials on bilateral cooperation and diplomatic efforts for peace and security in the region, reported IRNA. CNN has reached out to the Pakistani army for comment. Some context: Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between Tehran and Washington during the conflict, relaying respective peace proposals and counterproposals between the two warring parties. Munir — whom US President Donald Trump has called his “favorite field marshal” — led Pakistan’s mediation efforts. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country is in a “full-scale war” and acknowledged the country’s economic difficulties as the US prepares to ramp up sanctions on it. “We are apologetic that these problems exist, as we find ourselves in a full-scale economic, military, and security war,” Iranian state media IRNA reported Pezeshkian as saying on Sunday. “As the government, we are seeking with all our being to steer inflation, public problems, people’s livelihoods, people’s jobs, people’s future, and people’s lives towards dignity and pride,” he added. Iran, already drained by years of sanctions and grappling with the strains of war, is now facing another test as US President Donald Trump threatens to further squeeze its economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier pledged economic measures that have “never been seen” against Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a news conference Monday after pledging to apply measures that have “never been seen” on Iran. And US President Donald Trump has threatened an “economic D-Day” against Iran. The US has been imposing sanctions on Iran since 1979, after the US embassy in Tehran was seized following the Iranian Revolution, according to the US State Department. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on US sanctions on Iran says they were used to “deter, constrain, and encourage change in the adversarial behavior of the Iranian regime.” “US

The United States Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, said on Thursday that his country will impose the harshest sanctions in history on Iran, after President Trump promised to wage an “economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale.” In remarks to CNBC, Bessent stated that the economic pressure the United States will apply will make a direct military confrontation with Iran unnecessary. Bessent noted that these new, sweeping sanctions will “cause the government of Iran to collapse” and warned that other countries could face severe economic consequences if they continue to trade with Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: “We are going to go to all of our allies, and this will be the largest coordinated economic isolation in world history. We will tell them: ‘Either you are with us or against us.’” The Iranian Foreign Ministry characterized the threat of new sanctions as “illegal and inhumane.”

Iran Defiant Amid U.S. Sanctions Threat as Tensions Escalate Iran's foreign minister labels imminent U.S. sanctions as ineffective and sign of desperation. Despite the economic and military pressures, Iran remains steadfast, affecting global oil prices by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts and regional security cooperation continue amid rising tensions. Iran's foreign minister dismissed upcoming U.S. sanctions as ineffective and indicative of American desperation, reaffirming Tehran's resistance under immense international pressure. The U.S. Treasury Secretary intends to announce these sanctions, adding further strain to Iran's already beleaguered economy, compounded by continual military strikes. The maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz remains firm, causing global oil prices to rise. Tehran's Foreign Minister criticized the repetitive U.S. strategies, urging respectful dialogue instead. President Trump warned against aiding Iran, yet China, a major oil importer, seeks diplomatic solutions. Pakistan aims to mediate by sending its army chief to Tehran, focusing on regional stability. Despite severe economic hits, Tehran retains enough military prowess to disrupt oil trade. Iran's leadership gestures towards regional alliances for peace, with calls for diplomatic resolution resonating from both sides. (With inputs from agencies.)

The United States is expected to detail this Monday the new punishment it will impose on Iran, announced by President Donald Trump as "the most devastating economic operation in history against any country." A wave of sanctions against the Iranian regime and anyone who trades with Tehran is, however, being mocked by the Revolutionary Guards, who remain emboldened thanks to the pressure they still exert in the Strait of Hormuz. The economic penalty on Iran has already been rejected by China, Iran’s main economic partner until the United States and Israel unleashed the current crisis in the Persian Gulf. Beijing has refused to participate in this new phase of the "economic" war against Iran, in which Trump is risking the little credibility he has left to end this conflict before the November midterm elections in the United States. The U.S. wants to annihilate once and for all Iran’s economic capacity and reopen the Hormuz passage, but it will not be easy. The Islamic regime foresees this Washington offensive against the Persian country and those who still buy its oil and gas while bypassing the American blockade of Iranian ports as a "failure." Trump, already at the limit of political paroxysm due to his inability to end a war that has only served to crush the prestige of the United States and to harm Americans themselves and the rest of the planet by blocking one of the world’s major crude and gas transit routes, wants to play one last card, this time using economic blackmail and his pressure on global markets that Washington no longer dominates. A new Trump bluff? There are, however, many who see in this move a new bluff by the American leader, which will only bring more international tension, especially from superpowers like China or Russia, another of the countries that continues to negotiate openly and covertly with the ayatollah regime. A operation that, if it fails, will leave Trump with no other option than recognizing his defeat when it comes to bending Iran or resorting to desperate military means. That last option would entail the political collapse of Trump, unless the current U.S. president acts against the electoral process underway, as he has already threatened to do on some occasion. The future of the conflict appears more uncertain than ever, since Trump’s time is running out, with the midterm elections just around the corner on November 3. Moreover, the U.S. military is suffering unimaginable wear, draining its missile arsenals in the confrontation with Iran and exposing other fronts, such as the Asian front with China, by dispatching from the Pacific to the Middle East the aircraft carrier USS George Washington deployed there to relieve the one that has been sailing for months in the conflict arena, with its crew exhausted and on the verge of mutiny. And Iran is not weakening in its resistance to the U.S. On the contrary, Iran’s incessant armed actions in the Strait of Hormuz, punctual but effective, show that Trump’s claims that this key passage for the movement of hydrocarbons from the Persian Gulf is nearly clear are nothing but bravado for domestic consumption, with the region’s Arab countries as the real hostages of that ineptitude, incredulous at the steps his supposed greatest ally claims to be taking. A sanctions regime doomed to fail The problem for Washington is that the one who believes Trump’s war-mongering stories the least is the enemy to be defeated. This week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian recalled that the United States had previously issued similar threats to this total economic war as those in past cases and, as then, the current economic operation "is doomed to fail." "We have seen this movie before. The same tale, different goons," Amir-Abdollahian said on social media. He recalled, in this sense, the United States’ inability to bend Iran with that economic pressure 14 years ago, when the Democratic administration led the White House, or six months ago, when Trump promised, upon launching his offensive against the Islamic regime, an imminent unconditional surrender by the ayatollahs. In Amir-Abdollahian’s view, this "Economic D-Day" (referring to D-Day of the Normandy landings in World War II) is actually "an attempt to divert attention from the U.S. own crisis: an unprecedented debt, with interest costs skyrocketing." Iran, while presenting an image of calm and disdain in the face of Trump’s threats, does not close all doors, knowing that greater hardness in sanctions will eventually do it a lot of harm, though it may resist for six more months. That is why, on Monday, Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, is in Tehran to, according to Islamabad, "continue Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace" given the end of official contacts between Iran and the U.S. to negotiate an armistice. With the memorandum of understanding signed in June to stop the war turned into toilet paper, prospects for a ceasefire remain, nonetheless, meager. Iran threatens to widen the war In these circumstances, Iran’s response to this latest American coercion has been equally firm. On Saturday night, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned "all neighboring countries not to join the economic war" launched by the U.S. against the Islamic Republic. Otherwise, Rezaei warned in an interview with state television, "anyone who does so will be considered an enemy country." In this sense, the Iranian official threatened to attack crude export routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, which would effectively amount to another expansion of the war waged by the U.S. and Israel on February 28 of last year, extended two days later to Lebanon by the Israeli army, and which has already had skirmishes in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea against Iran’s Yemeni allies, and even the Caspian Sea, with a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel, which could trigger a worrying response from Russia. So far, the main theater of the war has been the Persian Gulf and Iran, with attacks on ports, cities, military installations, and Persian civilian infrastructure, and with the Iranian army’s response against bases for U.S. forces in the area and the Arab countries that host them, including Jordan or Iraqi Kurdistan, beyond that maritime territory. Rezaei insisted that Iran is ready to strike the U.S. economy. "We have not attacked any American economic interests. So far, we have only attacked military bases, but if they intend to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States owns oil and economic companies in the region, and we will attack them," he warned. The British newspaper Financial Times reported this week that, according to London intelligence sources, Iran is evaluating attacking U.S.-presence bases in Europe, especially in the Mediterranean. U.S. threats Although it has not specified what those new U.S. economic pressure measures will be, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pointed this week at countries that offer "any kind of vital aid to Iran" and threatened them with economic consequences. Right now, Iran suffers numerous sanctions that include the prohibition on selling oil on international markets or the freezing of its financial assets abroad. It is cross-border trade outside Western norms that is allowing it to survive. China, leading Iran’s trading partners, bought nearly 90% of Iranian oil at discounted prices before the war. The call for the economic war launched by Trump on Wednesday directly alludes to the Asian giant, though that may not have been the intention of the erratic strategy of the American president, already scarred by previous trade confrontations with Beijing and with a pending visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Washington at the end of September. In any case, China has felt addressed. In response to Trump’s volley, at least in rhetoric, the Chinese government clearly stated: Beijing rejects any illegal and unilateral sanctions against Iran that do not have the authorization of the UN Security Council or are not backed by international law. This was the response to Bessent’s specific request for China to join Trump’s initiative aimed at forcing Iran to accept the end of the war under U.S. demands. China orders ignoring the new U.S. sanctions The sanctions and the pressure will not help solve the problem, and coercion will only aggravate the current regional crisis, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. At the same time, the Ministry of Commerce of China urged domestic companies and independent oil refiners (known as teapots) to ignore the U.S. sanctions. The Chinese government is invoking a 2021 regulation that prohibits Chinese companies from complying with sanctions imposed by foreign countries that are deemed illegitimate. The situation remains very complex, and tensions continue to rise in Beijing amid the crisis sparked by Trump, with no sign of a favorable outcome. Chinese patience may also have a limit. With the fall in Iranian crude offers, fuel prices have risen, especially after the United States resumed blocking ports and Iranian ships on July 13, after having been lifted when the memorandum of understanding was implemented. If nothing changes, it will be in September and October when this shortage will be felt most in China, particularly in those companies that buy a large part of the oil subject to sanctions and that handle refining one-fifth of the petroleum products that reach China. This is the largest drop in Iranian crude oil imports since 2023. The Russian factor In this six-month war, despite international blockades and sanctions, Iran has found a way to continue exporting its oil to China and other countries. Part of that "illegal" crude is passing through Russia toward other states, with China being the first. The strict application of the new U.S. sanctions would affect Moscow’s business and its geopolitics. It would significantly increase the risk that the Middle East crisis would spill over to the north, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy always eager to please Trump and ready to order attacks on Iranian or Russian oil tankers navigating the Caspian Sea or the Black Sea with crude for China if this action earns the praise of the American president and wedges him between this president and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. When Bessent or any other Trump praetorian reads the fine print of this "devastating" economic operation against Iran, they should first consider how it will really affect China. Xi’s visit to Washington could hang by a thread, as could Trump’s image before the elections, a month later.

China on Monday said it would take the "necessary measures" to protect its interests in the event of possible secondary sanctions by the United States against countries that trade with Iran, after Washington threatened to penalties Tehran's economic partners. The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, said at a routine press briefing on Monday that Beijing would keep a close watch on the developing situation and take steps to safeguard its "rights and legitimate interests," without specifying the concrete measures to be taken. A fallback. Lin also reiterated that sanctions and pressure "do not help solve the problems" and warned that they will only worsen and escalate the situation, something that, according to Beijing, does not benefit any party. The spokesman urged the parties to return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible to avoid measures that could intensify tensions and affect global economic development and financial stability. The statements come on the same day that U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is scheduled to detail Washington’s new economic measures against Iran, after announcing that the United States seeks to push "the largest coordinated campaign of economic isolation in history." Bessent warned of economic consequences for countries that provide "any kind of vital aid to Iran" and noted that Washington intends to sanction, among other operations, money transfers and purchases of Iranian oil. China has been in recent years the main purchaser of Iranian oil, absorbing around 90% of its crude exports, placing it among the countries most exposed to a possible expansion of U.S. sanctions against Tehran’s trading partners. Beijing had already rejected the American threats last week, though then it had limited itself to saying that sanctions and pressure "are not the solution" and had not detailed how it would act in the face of potential measures affecting its exchanges with Iran. China’s response comes after Tehran, at the time, said it would consider neighboring countries that decide to back U.S. sanctions as "enemies" and threatened to attack crude export routes outside the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian regime also anticipated that Washington’s new economic campaign is "doomed to fail."

Donald Trump has once again written in all caps as he announces a new strategy against Iran after six months of war. He announced on his Truth Social platform that he plans the most economically destructive measures ever taken against a state, describing it as an 'economic war and unprecedented isolation,' and a 'day of economic victory.' Threats against Iran’s supporters The American president wrote: 'You know who you are.' Anyone backing the 'crazy' in Tehran will face severe economic consequences. 'Any country that allows its financial institutions, companies, airports, or government agencies to provide any kind of support to Iran' should expect severe economic repercussions. Trump did not specify the targeted countries or the nature of these consequences. He may be referring to China, which still imports large quantities of oil from Iran. Yet, China has consistently shown that it is not easily swayed by U.S. economic pressure, as illustrated during the bilateral trade dispute, as noted by the German outlet Tagesschau. Trump’s latest threat drew an immediate response from Beijing: 'Sanctions and pressure do not help solve the problem,' said a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. All parties involved should act responsibly and resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means. What are the sanctions? Trump left the door open regarding what might be involved in the 'unprecedented economic war' against Iran. As is known, the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on Iran for a long time. It remains unclear what additional sanctions could be imposed. Trump wrote: 'Oil smuggling, currency swap agreements, money transfers, exchange offices, ship registers, shell companies – all of this must be stopped immediately,' without pinpointing concrete measures. He urged U.S. allies to offer support. But U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday (August 20) that the United States would impose the 'harshest sanctions in history' on Iran, urging Beijing to cooperate with Washington. Mnuchin added that he would hold a press conference on Monday to discuss details. He told CNBC, 'It’s a double punch. We have the sanctions on Iran, and we will impose the harshest sanctions in history. It will succeed in Iran and bring down this regime.' He also said, 'It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to decide.' Iran’s economy is already suffering from severe weakness, but the regime’s strength in Tehran remains. The regime, in turn, possesses a highly effective means of influencing the global economy: since the start of the current war, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for oil trade. This problem is basically of Trump’s own making. Before the war on Iran, launched by the United States and Israel, the Strait of Hormuz was open to navigation. The blockade caused oil and gasoline prices to rise significantly, including in the United States. Iran laughs it off Iran’s reaction came as expected, with indifference. The American president 'is only trying to distract from his economic problems.' Foreign Minister Javad Zarif pointed to the historically high level of American debt and claimed that American 'economic terrorism' threatens the global economy. Iranian media expressed similar positions, naturally adopting the regime’s official stance. Tasnim News Agency wrote that this 'is not a new development; the United States has been seeking for years to sever all financial and economic ties with Iran.' But Iran 'has learned to circumvent these constraints and has become adept at it.' Far News Agency reported that Trump had previously spoken repeatedly about Iran’s imminent collapse and historically significant strikes. The agency said his claims are nothing more than a 'psychological war and typical propaganda campaign.' 'Big announcement... but without a strategy' In reality, since the start of the war, Trump’s rhetoric toward Iran has changed at a stunning pace, often without the facts actually changing. He even withdrew tariffs he had announced for the Strait of Hormuz after just one day. He has threatened multiple times with 'large-scale attacks' that never occurred. His threat to halt trade with Spain for not backing the war with Iran was also unproductive. In its analysis of Trump’s latest threat, CNN called it the 'most stunning pivot yet' in a conflict that has seen tactical shifts and countless reversals. It remains to be seen whether he will back down again in the face of mounting political costs. Political scientist Sasha Loman had said a month earlier in an interview with Tagesschau that Trump’s policies 'lack a strategy.' Perhaps the most appropriate frame for his threat of an 'unprecedented economic war' is within this context. Editing: Abdulla Jameel Al-Mukhallafi

What you need to know Deutsche Welle Persian News Hub is a news collection of daily topics and developments in Iran, the region, Germany, and the world across political, social, economic, cultural, sports, and other areas. In the "News Hub" you can follow a variety of events in a short and concise form. Zelenskiy: Russia and China are building alternatives to Starlink Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, said that both Russia and Ukraine are working on options to replace SpaceX's Starlink satellite network. Zelensky said Moscow, in cooperation with China, is developing systems similar to Starlink. According to Kyiv's assessment, this system could be ready by December this year. Starlink, SpaceX's satellite network, has played an important role in field communications, military coordination, and access to the Internet for troops in war zones during the Ukrainian war. The Ukrainian President said Kyiv will not sit idly by while Russia and China complete their system. He added that Ukraine is working on similar projects with a European country and testing of this system has already begun. Zelensky did not disclose the name of the country cooperating with Ukraine on the project. Iran reports discovery of a new gas field in southern Fars State media in Iran, on Sunday, 1 Shahrivar (Aug 23), citing Mohsen Pakanirojad, the Oil Minister, reported that a new gas field with reserves of more than 7.5 trillion cubic feet was discovered in southern Fars province. Pakanirojad said the extracted gas from the field is about 212.4 billion cubic meters. He added that with an estimated recovery rate, about 5,700 billion cubic feet of gas could be extracted from this field. Iran had estimated gas production before the war at about 650 million cubic meters per day, equivalent to about 8.4 trillion cubic feet per year. Accordingly, the exploitable reserve of the new field, if the estimates are realized, could be a significant portion of Iran’s annual gas consumption or production. Read more: Iran’s gas network and shadow banking in the crosshairs of U.S. economic anger Iran’s oil minister said the gas discovered is of the “sweet” type. Sweet gas means it has lower sulfur and acidic content, which could reduce development and operating costs. Araghchi called the American threats of new sanctions a sign of desperation Iran’s Foreign Minister: American threats to impose new sanctions show US desperation Ismail Khatibzadeh, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, sharply criticized Paris’ decision to expel two Iranian diplomats, calling it unjustifiable and a retaliatory move. He said Tehran’s actions in expelling two French diplomats were fully legal and within the Vienna Convention. He explained that as soon as we felt the French embassy in Tehran acted beyond its responsibilities and violated the Vienna diplomatic protocol, we intervened. He added that two French diplomats were told they must leave Iran and would not be allowed to return. The spokesman noted Paris’ retaliatory expulsion of two Iranian diplomats and stressed that relations between countries, including with France, must be based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs; the French action was a response to a completely legal move and is not justifiable. He concluded that such reciprocal actions by Paris could be harmful to continued bilateral relations between Iran and France. Jean Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, announced on X on Tuesday that Paris would expel two Iranian diplomats in the near future in retaliation for an incident in July involving French diplomats in Tehran. According to Iranian domestic media, Niloufar Shadmehr, the cultural attaché of the Islamic Republic’s embassy in Paris, was expelled by the French government on Wednesday, 27 Mordad. Survey: Most Germans expect Merz to be ousted early From YouGov’s latest poll commissioned by the German news agency, 54% of respondents believe that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be removed from office before the end of his term and the 2029 parliamentary elections. The poll surveyed over two thousand eligible voters. It found that 36% expect Merz to remain in power until the end of 2026 but step down before 2029. 18% even consider his dismissal possible before the end of this year. In contrast, only 29% think he will remain in office until the end of the parliamentary term, and 17% had no opinion. The poll also shows a sharp decline in Merz’s political influence. A large majority said that recent personnel changes in his cabinet, the parliamentary faction, and the CDU leadership have not strengthened his political authority. In this context, 67% believe he has lost part or much of his position in the party, while only 6% see increased authority. Regarding potential successors, Hendrik Wüst, the state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia from the CDU, with 25% of the votes, was presented as a more suitable option for the chancellorship, while only 9% considered Merz more worthy and 66% did not provide an alternative. FARAJA: Seizure of 1,000 Starlink devices and the arrest of dozens after the 12-day war Hossein Rahimi, head of the Economic Security Police of Faraja, announced that in the first four months of the current year, the authorities have arrested 163 people and seized 15 Starlink-equipped vehicles related to this case following the 12-day war. He claimed that most of these devices entered Iran through western and northwestern borders (Kurdistan region and Azerbaijan) and via southern sea borders and countries such as Qatar, UAE, and Oman. He described the main smuggling methods as exploiting border-area exemptions, transporting under the guise of passenger baggage, and crossing borders informally to launder across. Despite heavy internet restrictions and widespread filtering in Iran, there is a growing trend to use Starlink satellite internet nationwide, and security officials say the entry of these devices is organized smuggling. The sons of Mousavi talk about not being allowed to return home after the siege The children of Mousavi and Rahrnud described in a text the status of their parents during the siege and after the March 9, 2025 bombardments. Kokab, Zahra, and Narges Mousavi said their parents were moved from Derbar Akhtar to another place after the bombardment of 9 Esfand 1404 (Feb 28, 2025). The accounts say after multiple transfers, Mehdi Mousavi’s health deteriorated and he was hospitalized. Another part of the text concerns the status of Mousavi and Rahnourd’s private home at Derbar Akhtar. The children wrote that the house suffered serious damage in the bombardments, and due to broken windows and walls, its condition worsened. They state that it was only after more than 70 days that family members were allowed a several-hour visit, but there has still been no permission for Mousavi and Rahnourd to return to their private home. The children of Mehdi Mousavi and Zahra Rahnourd concluded the report by asking questions and criticizing that the return of the rightful owners to their private property has been conditioned on the permission and decision of the National Security Council. Dollar, gold, and coin price jumps in Iran’s market Gold, coin, and currency markets in Iran saw another surge on Sunday, 1 Shahrivar. According to the Economical Online site, in Sunday’s free market, the price of one US dollar rose by 5,300 tomans to 198,000 tomans. The euro also jumped by 6,200 tomans to around 231,230 tomans. Alongside the rise in exchange rates, gold and coin prices also increased. An 18-karat gold price rose to more than 21,733,000 tomans per gram. The price of the controversial Sheikhs’ coin reached around 218,000,000 tomans, and the Bahar Azadi coin reached about 214,610,000 tomans. Experts attribute this wave of gold and currency inflation to the heightened political and economic instability after tensions between Iran and the United States. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, on August 19 (July 28) posted on Truth Social that the beginning of the most crushing and unprecedented economic war against Iran had begun, warning that any country cooperating or trading with Iran would face severe economic consequences. Ismail Baghi reports on Pakistan Army Chief’s visit to Tehran Ismail Baghi reported that Asim Munir, the Chief of the Pakistan Army, will visit Tehran on Monday, September 2. Internal Iranian media reported that the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed that the visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad and to continue Pakistan’s efforts to bolster peace and security in the region. The Pakistan Army Chief is expected to meet senior Iranian military and political officials during this trip. Munir had previously met in Tehran on May 23 with Iran’s senior negotiator and Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, within diplomatic efforts related to regional tensions. Two Pakistani government sources confirmed the trip to Reuters. One source said Iran and Pakistan are in direct contact. The second said the discussions would include not only recent tensions with the United States but also Trump’s threats of harsher sanctions on Iran. The source added: “Munir will discuss peace within the framework of Islamabad’s memorandum of understanding, Trump’s warnings, post-tripartite Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Arabia conditions, and issues related to the Houthis with Iranian leaders.” Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding in June through Pakistan and Qatar, creating a 60-day window for negotiations toward a final agreement. Egypt also seeks to restart talks between the Islamic Republic and the United States Senior Egyptian and Iranian diplomats discussed regional tensions and the implementation of the Tehran-Washington memorandum on Aug 22 (31 Mordad). Egypt’s Foreign Ministry stated that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Iran’s counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, spoke by phone to assess the regional situation and ongoing efforts to “create favorable conditions to reduce tensions and return to the diplomatic path.” Meanwhile, Iranian and Omani foreign ministers separately discussed the Red Sea shipping developments and emphasized the importance of practical understandings to restore normal vessel traffic and regional security. Katz’s order to speed up destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Katz ordered the army to accelerate the destruction of Hezbollah infrastructures in southern Lebanon. According to the Jerusalem Post, the main focus of the operation is on villages that over the past two decades have transformed into fortified military outposts with Iranian support and guidance, such as Kefel Klah, al-Khiyam, Bint Jbeil, and Tibni. These villages, located along key highways and elevations, were equipped to prevent ground advances by Israeli forces while enabling rapid attacks on northern Israel. The reports say that during inspections in villages like Zotor al-Sharqi and Bayt al-Sayyad, warehouses and centers under homes were found used as bases, weapon storage, and operational tunnels. The Israeli Army said the engineering work is not only to destroy these positions but to create new routes to more rapidly support armored forces and prevent Hezbollah guerrilla attacks. At the same time, security officials criticized the Lebanese Army for not taking decisive and rapid action to identify and destroy Hezbollah positions; they claimed that the Lebanese Army fears direct confrontation with Hezbollah. Daily Telegraph: Iran’s cyberattack on a British power plant caused days of disruption The Daily Telegraph reported that hackers tied to the Iranian government attacked a small power plant in Britain, halting its operation for four days, the incident occurring last month alongside Iran’s cyberattacks on water infrastructure in the United States. The Telegraph cited sources saying staff worked to bring the system back online. British officials declined to name the plant. Officials stressed that the disruption did not threaten the national grid but warned about cyber threats to energy companies. Musavi’s supporters defend Islamabad’s memorandum Critics say the responders have no hands on the fire Massoud Mousavi’s president addressed the criticisms of Islamabad’s memorandum and accused critics of complicity with the issue.

Tehran (EFE) – Iran warned that it will consider as an “enemy” the countries that join the United States’ economic war against the Islamic Republic, a warning that comes after Washington announced an “economic D-DAY” against the Persian country. “We tell all neighboring countries not to join the economic war against Iran. Whoever does so will be considered an enemy country,” said Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an interview with state television late last night. “First, we will negotiate with them and ask them not to do so; if they continue, we will take measures against that country,” he added. Threat to attack oil export routes The former commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards specifically threatened to strike oil export routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz of countries that participate in the U.S. campaign of economic pressure. Rezaei also threatened to attack American economic interests if Washington proceeds with new financial measures against the Persian country, as announced. “We have not attacked any American economic interests. So far, we have only attacked military bases, but if they intend to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States owns oil and economic companies in the region, and we will attack them,” the former military officer said. Trump announced an economic operation: the economic D-DAY U.S. President Donald Trump has announced “the most devastating economic operation ever undertaken against any country” in what he called an “economic D-DAY” against Iran to end a war that is nearing six months and reopen Hormuz. Washington has not yet announced what the new economic measures against the Islamic Republic consist of, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned countries that provide “any kind of vital aid to Iran” that they will face economic consequences. Among Iran’s main trading partners are China, which buys around 90% of Iranian oil at a discounted price, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which this week announced the suspension of all its commercial relations, exchanges, and financial transactions with the Persian country. The Islamic Republic has for decades been subjected to U.S. and international economic sanctions, for example the prohibition on selling its oil on international markets, measures that have seriously damaged the country’s situation but have not managed to bend Tehran.

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Reject for €36/year Accept cookies It is news Formula 1 today Spanish economy Job loss Donald Trump Ceuta Universities Marbella Catalonia Seprona Forest firefighter Julian Álvarez Breastfeeding Lorca McLaren Christopher Nolan Renewable energies Rafa Jodar F1 Mercadona body cream Robot 100 meters record Prefabricated housing Earthquakes Incidents Ibex 35 Latest news Change Haaland Ikea outdoor furniture bag sometimes Spain Opinion Economy Companies International Culture Technology and Science Health ACyV Sports Vanitatis 1. World Photo: Two people look at two ships in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier:format(jpg)/f.elconfidencial.com/original/4be/cf4/6b1/4becf46b15bda42a3a83ea3d6d4f64eb.jpg) Two people look at two ships in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier) By Europa Press 24/08/2026 - 00:11 Iran warned this Sunday to the United States that, if it persists in its economic and trade war against Tehran, it will not allow the exit of even a drop of crude oil from the Persian Gulf region. “If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported either through the Strait of Hormuz or any other point in the Persian Gulf,” said Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the National Security Committee of the Iranian Parliament and one of the country’s most influential voices in foreign policy. Rezaei also warned that Tehran would consider “an act of war” the involvement of any state in the economic offensive promoted by Washington against the Iranian people. The American president, Donald Trump, has revealed a new economic offensive against Iran, described as an “isolation on an unprecedented scale,” and urged international partners to join this strategy. YOU MAY BE INTERESTED BY Europe Press In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said that U.S. pressure will become a “boomerang” that will affect its own economy. Ironically, Baqaei questioned: “Importing frozen meat to contain meat prices? It may work. But what is the plan for bonds? Will they import frozen yields? And for housing, frozen buyers? To resolve wages, will they issue frozen pay slips?” His words accompanied a four-panel image in which the boomerang thrown by Washington ends up hitting him in the face. YOU MAY BE INTERESTED BY A. Alamillos Nikola Lalov (Mediapool, Bulgaria) Krasen Nikolov (Mediapool, Bulgaria) According to Baqaei, a foreign policy that is “frozen and without initiative” leads to an economy that is “frozen and stagnant.” “What’s the only thing still in motion? Iran’s boomerang, which returns to strike them in the face,” he concluded. 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The war between Iran and the United States has exceeded six months and has become a financial standoff following Donald Trump’s threat of “tremendous economic consequences” for nations that keep doing business with the Islamic Republic. Awaiting concrete measures that the United States plans to take, which will be announced on Monday by the secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, Iran appealed to an eye for an eye and warned that “any country that participates in imposing restrictions on us will be considered an enemy.” These were the words of Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, in an interview with the state Persian IRIB network in which he warned of a “seismic” retaliation against those who join the White House’s economic offensive. Rezaei, a former commander of the Revolutionary Guard and one of the regime’s hardline standard-bearers, clarified that, “of course, we will first negotiate with them. We will hold talks and tell them to back off and distance themselves from the United States. But if they do not act, we will attack. We will attack the interests of that country.” This message aligns with the strategy pursued by the Iranians during the first 40 days of the war, when they did not hesitate to strike American interests and bases across the region in response to the bombings suffered. With the exception of Israel, the rest of the Middle East’s allies saw their security jeopardized for the first time by the United States’ failure to protect them. In recent decades, having American military facilities on one’s own soil was a symbol of protection, but the Persians have ended this equation. Since the start of the conflict, they have also blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which spells a nightmare for the出口 of oil and gas. Related news As Rezaei responds to Washington’s threats with new threats, Tehran awaits a visit by Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, a key figure in mediating between the United States and Iran due to his good rapport with Trump. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a statement that the Pakistani will lead a delegation to Tehran as part of “the ongoing efforts to help consolidate peace and security in the region.” Division in the Persian leadership Peace talks seem stalled after a resumption of hostilities in early July between the two sides. Both blame each other for failing to comply with the agreed points, and the memorandum of understanding signed in June remains in limbo, prompting alarm over the possibility of a new large-scale clash. Within the regime’s leadership, two different approaches to the situation are perceived. The main political leaders favor focusing on ending the war and strengthening the economy, but the hardline sectors, such as Rezaei, maintain a defiant tone. Throughout the week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the speaker of the Parliament and lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, advocated a negotiated exit to alleviate the severe crisis endured by citizens due to the armed conflict and the sanctions. The region’s nations know that having U.S. bases on their soil is no longer protection but a risk. “The war has to come to an end at some point,” Pezeshkian stated in remarks cited by Iranian media. “It is better to demonstrate our strength and our dignity today and tell the world that we have won and that we are bringing the war to an end.” In his view, there will be no security if Iran ignores its economic crisis, since, “no matter how much military power we have, if our people are suffering and the country lacks financial circulation and economic growth, we will not advance. As someone who has lived through war, we understand the true value of peace.”

The war between Iran and the United States has surpassed six months and has become a financial standoff following Donald Trump’s threat of "tremendous economic consequences" to nations that do not stop doing business with the Islamic republic. Awaiting concrete measures that the United States plans to take, which will be announced on Monday by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Iran appealed to an eye for an eye and stated that "any country that participates in imposing restrictions against us will be considered an enemy." These were the words of Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, in an interview with the Persian state broadcaster IRIB in which he warned of a "seismic" retaliation against those who join the White House’s economic offensive. Rezaei, a former head of the Revolutionary Guard and one of the regime’s hard-line standard-bearers, clarified that, "of course, we will first negotiate with them. We will hold talks and tell them to back away and distance themselves from the United States. But if they do not act, we will attack. We will attack the interests of that country." This message aligns with the strategy the Iranians have maintained during the first 40 days of the war, when they did not hesitate to strike American interests and bases across the region in response to the bombings suffered. With the exception of Israel, the rest of the allies in the Middle East for the first time saw their security jeopardized by the United States’ inability to protect them. In recent decades, having U.S. military facilities on their own soil was a symbol of protection, but the Persians have ended this equation. From the start of the conflict, they also block the Strait of Hormuz, which spells a nightmare for the export of oil and gas. Related news: While Rezaei responds to Washington’s threats with new threats, Tehran awaits a visit from the head of the Pakistani army, Asim Munir, a key figure in the mediation between the United States and Iran due to his good rapport with Trump. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated in a press release that the Pakistani leader will head a delegation to Tehran as part of “the ongoing efforts to help consolidate peace and security in the region.” Split within the Persian leadership: Peace talks appear stalled after a resumption of hostilities in early July between both sides. Each blames the other for failing to meet the agreed points, and the memorandum of understanding signed in June sits in limbo, prompting alarm over the possibility of a new large-scale clash. Within the regime’s leadership, there are two distinct approaches to the situation. The top political leaders favor focusing on ending the war and strengthening the economy, but the harder lines, like Rezaei, maintain a defiant tone. Throughout the week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the Parliament and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, advocated a negotiated exit to alleviate the grave crisis suffered by citizens due to the armed conflict and sanctions. The region’s nations know that having U.S. bases on their own soil no longer means protection, but a risk. “The war has to end at some point,” Pezeshkian said in remarks reported by Iranian media. “It is better that we show our strength and dignity today and tell the world that we have won and that we are bringing the war to an end.” In his view, there will be no security if Iran ignores its economic crisis, because, “no matter how much military power we have, if our people are suffering and the country lacks financial circulation and economic growth, we will not succeed. Having lived through war, we understand the true value of peace.”

The head of the Pakistani Army, Asim Munir, who has personally led mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, traveled to Tehran on Monday, surprise visit, to try to revive a diplomatic channel that has run aground in recent weeks after sporadic clashes in July in the Strait of Hormuz and a August full of insults, profanity, and economic threats. Washington will, in fact, announce on Monday a new package of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, which the U.S. president, Donald Trump, described last week as “historic and unprecedented.” The purpose of Munir’s Monday trip to Iran is, according to Pakistan, to “continue with efforts to help promote peace.” Islamabad, together with Qatar, is the main mediator in the Washington-Tehran conflict, and it managed to get both countries to sign a ceasefire agreement in April and a June pre-agreement that served to suspend the fighting and ease tensions in the region. Both pacts were ink on parchment within weeks. “There is a clear deficit of trust between the two sides. It is expected that Munir will meet on Monday with confidants of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” several Pakistani sources told the press. These same sources even claimed that the field marshal held an unannounced phone call with Trump last week in preparation for the trip. According to leaks to the press, the U.S. president asked Munir to use his influence to ensure a return to the negotiating table. It is also anticipated that the Pakistani will discuss with Iranian authorities the new defense alliance signed this month by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Iran has allegedly been invited to join the group. “Economic terrorism” While Iran awaits the announcement of the new U.S. economic sanctions, several of its senior officials said over the weekend that “any cooperation” from regional countries with Trump’s measures “will have consequences.” The billionaire, indeed, also threatened Iran’s neighboring countries if they did not help Washington with its sanctions. “America’s actions are a clear example of the economic terrorism they are trying to project to punish a nation that insists on defending its sovereignty and independence. The naval blockade of Iran is an act of aggression. We warn everyone that any cooperation with the illegal acts by the U.S. will have consequences. We will not stand idly by in the face of what is happening,” stated this Monday the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei. Baqaei insisted that Munir’s visit will only concern bilateral matters between Pakistan and Iran, something Islamabad itself denies. The mediators expect to return to the negotiating table once Tehran has completed its conversations with Oman — the other country with a coastline on the Strait of Hormuz — to decree the future status of the disputed maritime route. Subscribe to keep reading - The Galician orchestra that left 13,000 people speechless in Madrid: “But who are you?” - New flights at Lavacolla, more AVE trains, and three highways under construction turn Santiago into the great mobility hub of the Northwest of Spain - Galicia says goodbye to the heat this Sunday with the arrival of a front bringing rain and storms - How the work is progressing to finish the last stretch of the Santiago-to-Lugo A-54 highway: delays concentrated in Arzúa - Miniso shutters its Santiago store: the well-known chain closes its shop in Ensanche just two years after opening - The Xunta installs 15 panels in the Sar River as it passes through Santiago to warn of flood risk - Fly2Galicia already selling flights for 2027: who responds and what guarantees are there if the company goes bankrupt or if the plane doesn’t take off - The caravaning boom accelerates in Galicia despite restrictions

Iran warned on Saturday that it would consider any country that participates in applying economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic to be an "enemy," according to a senior Iranian official cited by state television. These statements come after Washington announced a tightening of economic sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran. "We warn all countries (...) not to join the economic war that the United States is waging. Any country that participates in imposing economic restrictions against us will be considered an enemy," said Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. If those countries "refuse to distance themselves" from the United States, "Iran will attack their interests," he added. "We have not yet attacked any American economic interests. So far, we have only attacked military bases, but if they intend to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States owns oil and economic companies in Iran and elsewhere, and we will attack them," Rezaei continued. If Donald Trump "takes measures" against Iran, "our confrontation will be like an earthquake," he threatened. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United States of "economic terrorism" on Thursday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated that Washington would bring about the collapse of the Iranian government with its new sanctions. Mnuchin is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday about how the United States intends to further increase the pressure, nearly six months after the war began, triggered by a joint attack by the United States and Israel against Iran. Washington has urged other governments, including Beijing, to join efforts to isolate the Iranian economy. China, a strategic economic partner for Iran, has criticized this initiative, arguing that U.S. sanctions and pressure will not resolve the Middle East conflict. Among Iran's main commercial partners is also the United Arab Emirates, which on Tuesday announced the suspension of all bilateral trade and financial transactions until further notice.

Mohsen Rezaei, new head of Iran’s top security body, also threatened to attack U.S. economic interests in the region The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaí, has warned neighboring countries that if they join the United States in its economic war against Tehran, they will be considered enemies and attacked. “We tell all neighboring countries not to enter Iran’s economic war. Anyone who does so, we will consider an enemy,” Rezaí warned in an interview with the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB on Saturday night. These statements come after U.S. President Donald Trump announced midweek the launch of an “economic operation” against Iran, aiming to strangulate the Islamic Republic’s finances and push some kind of progress in a conflict that has lasted six months and does not appear close to a resolution. The Republican said it is a plan for an “unprecedented scale of isolation” and urged his allies to provide support. “If the countries surrounding Iran join the United States in its economic war against Tehran, we will attack their interests,” Rezaí reiterated. The new leader of Iran’s top security organ has said that oil transport routes leaving the Gulf—alternative routes to the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed—will be targeted if neighbors join this “economic war,” according to news agencies. Iran already faces a severe U.S. trade and financial embargo, but that has not led the country—accustomed to an economy of resilience—to bow. With these financial measures to be implemented this week, Trump, who does not hide his frustration at the stalemate in the conflict, hopes to achieve some concrete positive result with just over two months until the midterm elections, at a time when his popularity stands at 33%, the lowest since he became president. In the interview, Rezaí intensified his tone and threatened U.S. commercial interests in the region. “We have not attacked any U.S. economic interests yet,” he noted. “So far, we have only targeted military bases, but if you want to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States has oil and economic companies around Iran and elsewhere, and we will attack them.” Rezaí, a former commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards, a veteran military figure and 71-year-old politician, embodies the regime’s hard line and took office in mid-August. His appointment places him in charge of a body that plays a central role in decisions about war, diplomacy, and the confrontation between Tehran and Washington. In mid-June, the two countries reached an agreement on a memorandum aimed at stopping hostilities, but the deadline to secure a solution expired last week with no results. Washington and Tehran have maintained indirect contact with mediation from several Middle Eastern countries, such as Oman, in an effort to set the conditions for a negotiated exit from the conflict.

The “economic D-Day” against Iran, promised last week by U.S. President Donald Trump, begins this Monday. This was stated by the United States Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, on his social media. “We are now entering the final phase,” wrote Trump’s right-hand man for economic affairs while praising the achievements he believes his president has attained in the war that began on February 28: having “dismantled” Iran’s military capability and “buried” its nuclear program. Now, according to Bessent, the time has come to “cut off all sources of economic sustenance that keep the regime standing until Tehran is left alone.” President Trump has dismantled Iran’s military capabilities, destroyed nearly 100 percent of its military factories, and buried its nuclear program. — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) August 23, 2026 We are now entering the endgame. At dawn begins an economic D-Day — the single greatest financial offensive ever marshaled against… Washington is increasing pressure on Tehran amid the stalemate in negotiations to end the war between the two countries. The secretary’s announcement follows the one Trump himself made last week, when he promised “the most devastating economic operation in history” against the Persian country. In a post on his own social network, Truth, Trump claimed last Wednesday that Iran had “failed to seize the opportunity to reach an agreement” and that it would face “an economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale.” In response, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, warned neighboring countries that if they join the U.S. economic war against Tehran, they will be considered enemies and, therefore, attacked. “Anyone who does so, we will consider an enemy,” he said on Saturday in an interview with the state IRIB channel. In this policy of maximum pressure, the White House occupant also threatened that any country doing business with Tehran “will face enormous economic consequences.” This measure would imply a secondary tariff on third countries — a levy on nations that buy Iranian products. With this, pressure extends to the main importers of Iranian goods. China, which in recent years has been the primary customer for oil from Jeju Island, absorbing around 90% of its crude exports, would be among the most exposed to potential secondary sanctions. Beijing announced on Monday that it will take the “necessary measures” to protect its interests. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country will “keep a close eye” on the evolution of the situation and take steps to safeguard its “rights and legitimate interests,” but did not specify them. The spokesperson also warned that sanctions and pressure “do not help resolve the problems.” Iran’s economy, however, has faced U.S. sanctions for five decades and has learned to develop survival strategies. Even the war, which has damaged it, has not managed to derail it. The Islamic Republic has managed to implement a resilience-based economy, focused on import substitution, dispersion of power plants, and a developed structure to circumvent oil sanctions, using, just like Russia, a phantom fleet and a black market for fossil fuels. Moreover, this is not the first time Trump has implemented a “maximum pressure” policy with harsh sanctions on Iran. He did it during his first term as well, when in 2018 he decided to abandon the nuclear deal that the Obama administration had built with Tehran and the European countries over several years. Trita Parsi, vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft think tank, says that “Trump’s maximum pressure should have broken Iran eight years ago,” he wrote this Monday on his social networks. “The blockade should have broken Iran four months ago. Trump’s Day D pressure will strangle Iran, but Iran’s most likely response will be a counter-escalation, not surrender.” For Parsi, the sanctions “will probably put a lot of pressure on other countries in the region, such as Iraq, which do not have much room to maneuver given their own difficulties.” In an interview with EL PAÍS, Ali Vaez, nuclear physicist and deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the International Crisis Group, said last spring that Washington’s sanctions on Tehran have barely served to strangle the country’s middle class, which, as a consequence, lost its leverage to push the Islamic Republic toward reforms.

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Iran has raised the tone of its warnings toward the United States as negotiations between the two countries remain stalled and economic pressure on Tehran grows. The Revolutionary Guard has warned that, if the conflict resumes, it will employ more advanced weaponry with greater destructive capacity than that used in previous confrontations, while the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, has called for preparing the country to face a possible new wave of American sanctions. The statements come after Donald Trump intensified pressure on Tehran this Wednesday and announced an economic offensive that he described as “unprecedented.” The exchange of warnings again places the possibility of a military and economic escalation at the center of the relationship between Washington and the Islamic Republic. For its part, the spokesman for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Mohabbi, has warned that a potential new military confrontation would not be a repetition of the previous ones. In statements distributed by the Tasnim agency, the general said that Iran’s armament capabilities have evolved and that the missiles used in a hypothetical conflict would incorporate warheads with greater destructive power. According to Mohabbi, “the destructive power of the warheads used in the Revolutionary Guard’s missiles far exceeds” that of those used in previous wars. The military officer added that, if a new war is unleashed, Iranian weapons would be “completely different” in all respects. The warning forms part of a speech aimed at both the outside world and domestic consumption. The Revolutionary Guard intends to convey that Iran has taken advantage of the past few years to strengthen its military capabilities and that any new confrontation would come at a high cost to its adversaries. Mohabbi has stated that Tehran continues to develop systems with greater precision, destructive capacity, and technological sophistication. However, his statements do not provide verifiable details about which new systems would be available or about the real reach of the capabilities he references. Pivotal moment in the conflict Iran’s response arrives at an especially delicate time. The United States maintains a maximum pressure policy toward Iran, and Trump has warned of new economic measures, while talks between Washington and Tehran remain blocked. In this context, the Revolutionary Guard’s statements raise the risk that the political and economic confrontation could spill over back onto the military front. The Iranian general has also focused on Yemen and the ability of Tehran-backed armed groups to resist their regional adversaries. Referring to clashes with Saudi Arabia, he argued that Riyadh would have difficulty containing the Yemeni insurgents. As an argument, he compared the situation to the Gaza conflict and claimed that Israel would not have managed to inflict serious damage on Hamas after more than two years of conflict. From that comparison, Mohabi argued that Saudi Arabia, whose military capabilities he considers inferior to Israel’s, would still have even less chance of defeating the Yemeni groups. China questions the U.S. sanctions Separately, the Washington-Tehran standoff is also being watched from other parts of the world. Beijing has questioned the legitimacy of unilateral economic sanctions against Iran and maintains that such measures have no place in international law. China’s position adds diplomatic pressure on the United States, though it does not necessarily imply support for all of Tehran’s policies. Beijing maintains economic and strategic ties with Iran and has traditionally defended opposition to unilateral sanctions that do not have the backing of the United Nations Security Council, such as the economic sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran. Thus, as Iran threatens to respond militarily if the war returns, it prepares its economy for a new offensive of sanctions and seeks to strengthen its regional alliances, while the United States increases pressure on Tehran through coercive economic measures. The moment is tense, but mutual threats do not amount to a confirmation that a new war will occur. Yet the simultaneous hardening of military language, economic pressure, and regional diplomacy shows that room for de-escalation remains very narrow.

Iran’s foreign minister dismissed the threat of new U.S. sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran. Get the Latest US Focused Energy News Delivered to You! It's FREE:Quick Sign-Up Here Iran’s economy is already under huge pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has been hit repeatedly and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on February 28. But Tehran remains defiant after nearly six months of war and has brought shipping to a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, refusing to allow unauthorized oil tankers to transit a waterway that is vital for global oil shipments. The effective blockade of the strait has pushed up global oil prices. Describing what he said were “repetitive scenarios”, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a video posted on Telegram: “The fact that they (U.S. leaders) have moved on from military operations… to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate.” He said Washington must speak to Iran respectfully to find “a solution based on justice and honour.” “We have never been afraid. All of their actions – whether blockades or other military moves they have made – have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well,” he said. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of economic consequences against any country that provides “any type of lifeline to Iran” and Bessent has urged cooperation with Washington by China, which buys more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. China has urged diplomacy. PAKISTAN’S ARMY CHIEF TO VISIT TEHRAN Iran said Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, would visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the region, but gave few details. Pakistan has been mediating in the conflict and a Pakistani government source said Munir would touch on recent developments including the U.S. threat of new sanctions. Trump said on Friday that Washington was observing “what happens” in the conflict. “They would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion,” Trump said of Iran. U.S. attacks have severely diminished Iran’s economy and devastated its navy and air force, but Tehran maintains enough missile and drone capability to impede oil tanker traffic and attack regional rivals. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Saturday that Tehran had received “numerous messages” from neighbouring countries about establishing new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation. Qalibaf did not say which countries he was referring to. He accused the U.S. of endangering the security of its allies in the region for the sake of Israel, adding that an independent, “homegrown” regional order would deliver peace and security. Trump has yet to achieve objectives he set at the start of the war such as dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme — the state of which remains uncertain given that U.N. inspectors have been shut out since 2025 — and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers. While Iran remains defiant, President Masoud Pezeshkian has also called for a diplomatic solution. “It would be better to end the war today, when we are powerful and have dignity, and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America, contrary to all regulations, attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure and is hated in the world,” the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying on Friday. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly in Dubai, Menna AlaaElDin in Cairo and Mubasher Bukhari in Islamabad, Writing by Timothy Heritage, Editing by Susan Fenton) Share This:

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced launching what she called an "economic D-Day" against Iran, describing the campaign as the largest single financial strike ever leveled at an adversary, with further details to be revealed on Monday evening. The United States is intensifying its economic pressure on Iran after Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen announced the start of the "economic D-Day". Yellen said this step represents the "largest single financial attack ever marshaled against an opponent." He explained his position in a post on the X platform late Sunday, and in an opinion piece in the Financial Times published the same day. Yellen noted that the Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran "largely dismantled Iran’s military capabilities and weakened its nuclear program." He added that the administration is "entering a decisive phase" now, and that the economic measures will take effect at dawn. According to the US Treasury secretary, the goal is to "cut every economic artery that keeps this autocratic regime in place, until Tehran stands alone." Yellen warned countries that continue to buy Iranian oil or move it, or facilitate the flow of money through exchange houses and free zones, or operate flights, or maintain ship records or enable marine fuel transfers, that any remaining links will accelerate their isolation just as well. These statements come after positions voiced by President Donald Trump last week, when he announced in a Truth Social post the "harshest economic crushing operation ever undertaken against any country!". Despite these announcements, specifics of the measures have not yet been released. According to the outline presented by Yellen, the new package could focus on secondary sanctions against countries and entities that continue to purchase Iranian oil, or process its financial transactions, or operate banks connected to it, or support shipping and other trade channels, in addition to the existing maritime blockade. A press conference is scheduled for 7:00 PM Central European Time on Monday to announce concrete steps. Market Reaction Oil prices fell on Monday morning despite escalating rhetoric. As of this writing, Brent crude—the global benchmark—is trading around $91.50 per barrel, about 2% below Friday’s close, while West Texas Intermediate is around $86.20, down roughly 1.5% from last week’s close. This dip could reflect profit-taking after recent gains, and reports of a temporary uptick in oil tanker traffic through the Hormuz Strait. According to shipping data reported by Axios, nearly 40 tankers crossed the southern channel late Friday, delivering about 16 million barrels of oil, more than 15 to 20 ships recorded in the previous nights. Nonetheless, total volumes traversing this waterway remain well below pre-conflict levels. Conversely, US futures are down ahead of the open, while European stocks moved little changed.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced the launch of what he calls an 'economic D-Day' against Iran, describing the campaign as the single greatest financial offensive ever directed at an adversary, with further details due later on Monday. The US is ramping up its economic pressure on Iran after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared the start of an "economic D-Day". According to Bessent, this represents "the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary." He set out the position in a post on X late on Sunday and in a Financial Times opinion article published the same day. Bessent stated that US President Donald Trump's military campaign had "significantly dismantled Iran’s military capabilities and weakened its nuclear programme". He added that the administration is now "entering the endgame" and that the economic measures begin at dawn. The objective, according to the US Treasury Secretary, is to "sever every economic lifeline that sustains the tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone". Bessent cautioned countries that continue to buy or transport Iranian petroleum, facilitate financial flows through exchange houses and free trade zones, handle flights, maintain ship registries or enable seaborne fuel transfers, that any remaining links would accelerate their own isolation. The comments follow remarks by US President Donald Trump last week. At the time, Trump announced in a Truth Social post "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country!" Despite both declarations, specific measures have not yet been set out. According to Bessent's outline, the package could centre on secondary sanctions against nations and entities that keep purchasing Iranian oil, process its finances, operate related banks or support shipping and other commercial channels, layered on top of the existing naval blockade. Bessent is scheduled to hold a press conference at 7 PM CET on Monday to announce the concrete steps. Market reaction Oil prices are lower on Monday morning even as the rhetoric intensifies. At the time of writing, Brent crude, the international standard, is trading at around $91.5 which is 2% lower than Friday's close while West Texas Intermediate stands at roughly $86.2, about 1.5% lower than last week's close. The fall may stem from profit-taking after recent gains and from reports of a temporary rise in tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz. According to shipping information cited by Axios, around 40 tankers transited the southern channel on Friday night, moving roughly 16 million barrels of oil, higher than the 15-20 vessels recorded on preceding nights. Overall volumes through the waterway remain well below pre-conflict levels. On the other hand, US futures are also in the red ahead of market open while European stocks are trading flat.

The Trump administration is preparing to launch what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called an "economic D-Day" against Iran, escalating pressure not only on Tehran but also on foreign governments, financial institutions and businesses that continue providing the country with economic lifelines. The campaign could raise the stakes for companies and countries with financial, shipping and energy ties to Iran, as Tehran threatens to treat participation in the U.S. pressure campaign as an "act of war" and potentially disrupt oil exports across the Persian Gulf. "At dawn begins an economic D-Day — the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary," Bessent wrote in a Financial Times op-ed published Sunday ahead of planned remarks Monday. Bessent said the administration intends to target the remaining commercial and financial links sustaining Iran, including countries and entities involved in purchasing and transporting Iranian petroleum, moving money through exchange houses and free-trade zones, maintaining ship registries and facilitating other financial activity. "Any nation that serves as a financial artery of a withering regime should expect to share in its isolation," Bessent wrote. President Donald Trump has separately described the campaign as the "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY," warning that countries allowing their banks, businesses, airports or government entities to provide Iran with an economic "lifeline" could face U.S. economic consequences. Trump specifically cited oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies among the activities Washington is targeting. Iran, meanwhile, is seeking to raise the potential cost for countries that align with Washington’s campaign. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned Sunday that Tehran could move against oil exports from the region if the pressure continues. "If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf," Rezaei wrote on X. "Iran will regard any country’s participation in or support for America’s economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war." The dueling warnings are increasing pressure on governments and companies weighing whether to maintain economic ties with Iran and risk consequences from Washington or distance themselves from Tehran amid threats of Iranian retaliation. China said Monday that sanctions and pressure would not resolve the dispute and that Beijing would take necessary steps to protect its rights and interests, according to reporting from Reuters. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian also urged the parties to act with restraint. Pakistan, meanwhile, has continued its efforts to mediate between Washington and Tehran. Pakistani army chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran Monday for talks that Pakistan’s military said were part of efforts to promote regional peace and stability. Bessent has not yet publicly detailed the full legal and financial measures that will make up the new campaign. His op-ed said the administration is prepared to use "every agency, every authority" to isolate Iran economically. FOX Business has reached out to the Treasury Department for additional details on the scope of the planned measures. Bessent is expected to provide additional details on the administration’s Iran strategy later Monday.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., joined "Sunday Morning Futures" to discuss U.S.-Iran tensions and President Donald Trump’s plans to escalate sanctions against Tehran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had redirected 70 ships and disabled three others Sunday amid the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. “A U.S. sailor monitors flight operations aboard the USS John Finn (DDG 113) as the guided-missile destroyer sails in the Arabian Sea and enforces the U.S. blockade against Iran,” the command said in a post shared on X. As of Aug. 23, U.S. forces have redirected 70 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to ensure compliance, CENTCOM added. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF officials held a security assessment Sunday on the threat posed by drones, balloons and kites launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel. “Israel warns Hamas that if the launches toward Israel do not cease immediately, the IDF will act to increase targeted strikes against those responsible for the launches and will evacuate the population from areas used as launch sites for kites, drones, and balloons,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement posted on X. The office also said there would be “no return to the state of affairs prior to October 7.” “Israel will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization or any other element in the Gaza Strip to threaten our communities again and compromise our citizens' sense of security,” the statement said. Israel's warning came after four kites believed to have crossed from Gaza were found in the Nahal Oz area over the weekend, according to the IDF. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday mocked the United States after President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the “most crushing” economic sanctions against Iran, saying that restrictions from Washington would backfire. “Importing frozen meat to fix meat prices. Okay, that might work,” Ghalibaf said in a post shared on X. “What’s the plan for bonds, import frozen yields? Frozen homebuyers for housing? Frozen paychecks for wages?” he questioned before stating that a “frozen foreign policy delivers a frozen economy.” “The only thing still moving? The Iran boomerang,” Ghalibaf said. Ghalibaf also shared four images of a character throwing a boomerang labeled “the most crushing economic operation ever.” Maritime traffic is spiking through through the Strait of Hormuz this weekend as the U.S. Navy escorts oil tankers through the area. President Donald Trump has declared the strait open despite Iran's efforts to cut off the trade rout. Fox News chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt reported on the Trump administration’s plan to economically isolate Iran on "Fox Report" on Sunday, saying leaders in Tehran are divided on how to continue the conflict. This is an excerpt from an opinion article by former U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sonland. President Donald Trump is finally proposing the Iran policy that our allies have spent decades avoiding: If you want the benefits of doing business with the United States, you cannot also help finance the regime in Tehran. It really is that simple. Trump’s "Economic D-Day" is not merely another sanctions package filled with the names of Iranian officials who do not have American bank accounts and never planned to visit Disneyland. The important idea is to punish the foreign countries, banks, refiners, shipping companies and middlemen that keep Iran in business. They must choose between Iran and America. They should no longer be allowed to choose both. When I served as U.S. ambassador to the European Union, I watched European governments twist themselves into diplomatic, legal and moral contortions to avoid seriously sanctioning Iran. There was always a deal that took precedence over principle. One country had an energy contract to protect. Another had companies pursuing Iranian business. Someone else wanted to preserve a diplomatic channel. Brussels was perpetually waiting for another negotiation that would supposedly moderate the regime if only we remained patient, constructive and commercially engaged. Europe claimed that commerce created leverage. Iran got the commerce and Europe rarely exercised the leverage. President Donald Trump said during a rally in South Carolina that Iran wants to make a deal "so badly” but that the U.S. does not know if it wants one on Saturday. Trump went on to double down on his claim that he views the Strait of Hormuz as "an American territory" amid the war with Iran. Fox News' Trey Yingst says Iran is threatening "seismic" retaliation against the U.S. and regional neighbors that help the U.S. on Sunday. President Donald Trump is weighing additional sanctions against Tehran as the U.S. effort to cripple the regime's economy continues. Ret. Air Force Gen. Charles Wald joined Fox News on Saturday to discuss differing opinions among Iran’s leaders. Negotiations have shown the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be the most radical faction within Tehran's government. Shell President Colette Hirstius joined "Fox & Friends Weekend" to discuss gas price concerns amid the U.S.-Iran war as well as showcase her company’s made-in-U.S.A. IndyCar race fuel. Gas prices averaged $4.10 a gallon nationally last week. Dr. Sheila Nazarian, an Iranian-American who fled Iran as a child, joined "Life, Liberty & Levin" to discuss her home country’s appetite for freedom amid the war with the U.S. Many U.S. politicians have suggested that fanning the flames of dissent within Iran agaisnt the regime in Tehran could be productive. As global attention remains fixed on tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a petroleum geologist is warning that the more consequential energy story may be unfolding thousands of feet underground — and could continue long after any political agreement ends the fighting. Art Berman, a petroleum geologist and energy consultant with more than four decades of industry experience, told Fox News Digital that millions of barrels of Persian Gulf oil production remain shut in and warned that restoring those wells is far more complicated than simply reopening the strategic waterway. "This is potentially a kind of a world-changing event, even if we resolve the political issues," Berman said. "The bigger story and the more important one long term is that 8 million barrels of Persian Gulf production is currently shut in and world production is down about 10 million barrels a day," Berman explained. "We can move tankers around and we can obsess about, you know, are there 4 million barrels getting through or are there 6 million or 9 million or whatever the right number is," he added. "But eventually, those tankers have to be filled with oil." A White House official, speaking on background, pointed to the sharp decline in oil prices following the signing of the MOU and said the Strait of Hormuz is open, with the U.S. naval blockade in full effect. Berman's estimate of Gulf shut-ins is broadly consistent with the latest assessment from the International Energy Agency. The IEA said in its Aug. 12, 2026, Oil Market Report, "Gulf oil production rose by a further 2.5 mb/d in July to 23.9 mb/d, still 8.3 mb/d below pre-war levels." Global oil supply remained 6.3 million bpd below year-earlier levels, according to the agency. This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Efrat Lachter. Fox News chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt reported on the Trump administration’s new plan to pressure Iran economically as well as Iran's own efforts to avoid economic blowback on "Fox Report." Live Coverage begins here

Issued on:22/08/2026 - 11:48Modified:22/08/2026 - 22:07 Iran on Saturday said that any country participating in the United States’ “economic war” against the Islamic republic would be considered “an enemy”. The warning came after President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday the war with the US should end because the world had already accepted that Iran had won, according to Iranian state media. Iran on Saturday warned countries against participating in the United States' "economic war" against the Islamic republic, saying they would be considered enemies. "We declare to all countries... do not join the economic war waged by the United States. Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy," said Mohsen Rezai, the head of Iran's supreme national security council, on state television. An explosive device detonated on a bus carrying security forces near the Syrian capital on Saturday, resulting in injuries among the passengers, state media reported. "An explosive device targeted a bus carrying Internal Security Forces personnel on the Maarounah-al-Tal road in Damascus countryside, leaving several personnel injured," state news agency SANA reported, adding that the attack was under investigation. Former British and French diplomats are urging action over what they say is Israel’s "erasure"of Palestine. More than 100 of those diplomats have penned a letter to the French President and the British Prime Minister calling for a ban on trade and arms sales to press Israel to accept a Palestinian state. FRANCE 24 speaks to one of the signatories – Sir Vincent Fean, British former Consul-General Jerusalem and current trustee of the Britain Palestine Project to understand what does he hope the letter will achieve? An ⁠Iranian military ​official called on Qatar ​on Saturday to transfer detained Iranian pilots to a hospital ​on ‌land, ⁠saying they were being held ‌on water and were in "poor ⁠physical condition", Tasnim news agency reported. Mohammad Baqerzadeh, ​commander of the ‌Committee for the Search for Missing Persons of ‌Iran's Armed Forces General Staff, said ​the location where the pilots were being held was unsuitable ​and requested that ​the International ​Committee of the Red Cross send ​an air ambulance to Qatar to expedite the return of injured and ⁠sick detainees to Iran. The ⁠repair of ​Iran's South ​Pars Phase 14 gas refinery, hit during an ​Israeli ‌attack ⁠in June last ‌year, is 70% complete, the ⁠Pars Oil and Gas Company's ​chief executive said, according ‌to Iran's oil ministry news agency ‌SHANA. The refinery would ​be fully restored by the end of ​the year, CEO Touraj ​Dehqani said, ​and the damaged ​section will be fully integrated into the production cycle, he ⁠added. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Saturday condemned US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who is also Washington's point man on Syria, after he criticised an Israeli strike on a Syrian military base near Turkey. Katz wrote on X that Israel had passed on "intelligence information to the authorised parties in the United States" before the strike, and that Barrack's comment was "full of inaccuracies and positions that contradict the stance of US President (Donald) Trump himself regarding the Golan Heights". Syria condemned an Israeli strike southwest of Damascus that wounded one person on Saturday, the second such attack in a week. "This attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and the integrity of its territory, and a blatant breach of international law, and comes in the context of repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Turkey and Israel traded insults on Friday, after Ankara announced it was seeking an international arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of "genocide" because of the interception of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. Netanyahu's office accused Turkey of hypocrisy. Our correspondent in Turkey Jasper Mortimer analyses the situation. The ⁠repair of ​Iran's South ​Pars Phase 14 gas refinery, hit during an ​Israeli ‌attack ⁠in June last ‌year, is 70% complete, the ⁠Pars Oil and Gas Company's ​chief executive said, according ‌to Iran's oil ministry news agency ‌SHANA. The refinery would ​be fully restored by the end of ​the year, CEO Touraj ​Dehqani said, ​and the damaged ​section will be fully integrated into the production cycle, he ⁠added. The United States and Iran exchanged defiant messages ahead of Monday's scheduled announcement of new US economic sanctions that could impact the Islamic Republic and Tehran's most important trading partners including China. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday ⁠that the imminent US announcement of new economic sanctions on Iran was an "assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent member state of the United Nations." US President Donald Trump, who has warned of economic consequences against any ​country that provides "any type of lifeline to Iran," said on Friday that Washington was observing "what happens" in the conflict. An ⁠Iranian military ​official called on Qatar ​on Saturday to transfer detained Iranian pilots to a hospital ​on ‌land, ⁠saying they were being held ‌on water and were in "poor ⁠physical condition", Tasnim news agency reported. Mohammad Baqerzadeh, ​commander of the ‌Committee for the Search for Missing Persons of ‌Iran's Armed Forces General Staff, said ​the location where the pilots were being held was unsuitable ​and requested that ​the International ​Committee of the Red Cross send ​an air ambulance to Qatar to expedite the return of injured and ⁠sick detainees to Iran. ⁠Iran ⁠has ​granted permission ​for a number of Iraqi oil tankers ​to ‌pass ⁠through the ‌Strait of Hormuz following ⁠repeated requests from Baghdad through ​various channels, Iran’s ‌state news agency IRNA ‌reported on ​Saturday. IRNA said obtaining special permission for Iraqi ​tankers was one ​of ​Baghdad’s main requests ​during Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s visit ⁠to Iraq. Welcome to our liveblog. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the war with the US should end sincethe world has already accepted that Iran has won. ⁠US ⁠President Donald ​Trump said ​he did not think that Iran was ready make ​the "right deal", ‌and ⁠that Washington was observing "what happens" ‌in the conflict. TheStrait of Hormuzremained bottled up with thousands of seafarers stranded on hundreds of vessels, ship-tracking data showed. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters) Read next Most read

United States will impose the harshest sanctions in history on Iran By: Miguel Gutiérrez Thursday, August 20, 2026 The United States will impose the harshest sanctions in history on Iran. This was announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, following President Donald Trump's warning of an unprecedented economic war. Bessent noted that these measures, along with the naval blockade, aim to maximize economic pressure and reduce the need for new military operations. Details will be announced next Monday. Iran condemned the sanctions, calling them “economic terrorism.” The conflict, now nearly six months old, continues to affect oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and oil prices remain above $90 a barrel. (CAGG) Related Over 300 victims after 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia Over 300 victims after 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia Turkey seeks arrest warrant for Netanyahu Turkey seeks arrest warrant for Netanyahu Man arrested after attacking several people with a sword at a school in Sweden Man arrested after attacking several people with a sword at a school in Sweden Eight people killed in a plane crash in Alaska Eight people killed in a plane crash in Alaska

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent speaks to the media outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on August 20 2026. Photo: VCG US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's latest remarks that Washington will impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran while urging China to cooperate reflect an attempt to shift responsibility for the prolonged Iran war and the failure of US pressure tactics. By trying to drag China into the discussion, Washington is essentially resorting to the ploy of "making others take medicine for one's own illness." This amounts to the US' making excuses for its own erroneous policy toward Iran, said Chinese experts. China opposes illicit unilateral sanctions that lack basis in international law and UN Security Council mandate, Lin Jian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday in response to Bessent's remarks, calling on parties to act responsibly and stick to the political and diplomatic approach. "We have the blockade (on Iran), and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history," Bessent told CNBC. Bessent said he would hold a press conference on Monday to discuss details, according to a Reuters report. When asked if the US could target China for doing business with Iran, Bessent said many conversations were best to have in private. "We are confident that everyone wants the Strait (of Hormuz) reopened, and for energy prices to come back down," he said, per Reuters. Bessent's comments on Thursday followed US President Donald Trump's threat a day earlier of "Economic Warfare" and warning of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran," according to Reuters. The US appears to have reached an impasse with Iran, caught in a dilemma in which it can neither secure a military victory, reach a political settlement, nor easily disengage. Against this backdrop, Washington is seeking to intensify economic pressure on Tehran to force concessions, while also directing pressure toward China. At its core, this approach amounts to waging an economic cold war against Iran in an attempt to compel Tehran to alter its existing policies, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Friday. Amid declining domestic support for the US' current policy on Iran, Bessent sought to shift blame onto others, a clear case of buck-passing. By blaming normal trade between Iran and countries such as China and Russia for the prolonged Iran crisis and the failure of Washington's pressure campaign on Iran, the US is "asking others to take medicine for its own illness." The root cause lies in Washington's own confrontational policy toward Iran, said the expert. At a press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday, a Bloomberg reporter asked: "US President Donald Trump has announced plans to inflict what he calls an 'economic D-Day' on Iran, including threats against Iran's trading partners. Given that China buys a large amount of Iranian oil, does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this approach of economic warfare that Trump is threatening and how it might affect China?" Spokesperson Lin said that sanctions and pressure tactics are not the solution. China calls on all parties to act responsibly and remain committed to a political and diplomatic approach. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the US move as a "diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs." "Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat - and enmity of Iranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide," Araghchi wrote on X on Thursday morning. The US has sanctioned Iran for decades without achieving its desired results. During the maximum economic pressure campaign launched in 2018, Iran suffered a severe economic downturn, yet Washington failed to force Tehran into major concessions. A new round of tougher sanctions could further strain Iran's economy and disrupt trade with regional partners, but is unlikely to trigger an immediate collapse, Tian Wenlin, a professor at the Renmin University of China's School of International Studies, told the Global Times. Washington also appears to be taking a dual-track approach toward China: seeking to use China's economic leverage over Tehran while threatening Chinese companies that continue normal trade with Iran, said the expert. Washington's shift from military options to economic pressure may signal limited de-escalation, but the broader US-Iran rivalry could settle into a prolonged, low-intensity standoff. Persistent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz would keep global energy markets under pressure, fueling inflation and weighing on global growth, said the expert. Oil prices rose to more than a three-week high on Thursday following those US threats of financial penalties aimed at forcing an end to a nearly six-month-old war that has stranded millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil, according to a Reuters report on Friday.

Iran's foreign minister dismissed the threat of new US sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 pm EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran. Iran's economy is already under huge pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has been hit repeatedly and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28. Also Read | Iran admits facing 'many problems' amid Trump's 'economic' warfare, says MoU with US best way out of conflict Subscribe Now! Get features like Iran's foreign minister dismissed the threat of new US sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 pm EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran. Iran's economy is already under huge pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has been hit repeatedly and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28. Also Read | Iran admits facing 'many problems' amid Trump's 'economic' warfare, says MoU with US best way out of conflict

The United States is moving to escalate its economic pressure on Iran with the announcement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin of the start of what was described as the “largest financial siege.” The American president, Donald Trump, announced the start of what he described as the “harshest sweeping economic operation” against Iran, warning that any country providing any form of support to Tehran will face consequences. The confrontation between Iran and the United States has entered a new phase of political and military escalation after Trump asked his senior envoys to escalate. Iran has hardened its stance toward the United States and its neighboring countries, warning that any country cooperating with Washington in the economic war will be considered an enemy, and threatening to prevent oil from leaving the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and to target other export routes if regional states join the American pressure, while Trump renewed his threats regarding the Strait. The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran stated that all neighboring countries should not participate with the United States in the economic war, otherwise Tehran will consider them an enemy. He added, in remarks carried by Iranian television on Saturday, that Iran would prevent the exit of any oil from the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz if neighboring countries participated in the economic war alongside Washington, threatening to strike other routes through which oil is exported from the Gulf. He affirmed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills its commitments, stressing that Washington must be the first to fulfill its commitments, noting that more than 50% of the Gulf coastlines belong to Iran and that Tehran is the one who should manage the Strait of Hormuz, while stressing that his country seeks to end the war and stand against those who he described as war hawks. The Iranian official warned that Tehran will respond “with a harsh reply” if Trump takes new steps, pointing out that Iran stands united behind its armed forces. For his part, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that his country will not make concessions “to the enemy,” stressing its ability to solve its problems by force and reason, and that it is working to achieve that. Raisi added that “it is better to end the war today, and we are in a position of strength,” in reference to Iran’s insistence on ending the confrontation from a position it deems strong. In this context, the acting defense minister of Iran confirmed the readiness of new military systems, saying that what the opponent has seen on the battlefield is only part of Iran’s capabilities, and what has not yet been seen is “much more.” In parallel, U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric about the Strait after he posted on his platform Truth Social a map labeled “New American Land,” referring to the Hormuz Strait. This comes after Trump reiterated his statements about his desire to declare American sovereignty over the Strait, the latest of which was his saying last Friday that he considers the Hormuz Strait to be “American land.” In a separate development, the British newspaper The Telegraph revealed that Iran disrupted a British power plant for four days in a cyberattack described by the paper as unprecedented. The Telegraph said the attack occurred in parallel with a series of assaults targeting U.S. water infrastructure last month, noting that British officials refrained from naming the affected power plant for security reasons. A government spokesperson said the incident affected a small power generator, stressing that there was never any danger to the broader energy system. Read more… Trump declares an economic war on Tehran. The United States is moving to escalate its economic pressure on Iran with the announcement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin of the start of what was described as the “largest financial siege.” President Donald Trump announced the start of what he described as the “harshest sweeping economic operation” against Iran, warning countries that provide any form of support to Tehran of consequences. The confrontation between Iran and the United States has entered a new phase of political and military escalation after Trump asked his senior envoys to escalate.

Live War, latest news. Turkey, Flotilla: international arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu. The response: ‘Erdogan is an anti-Semitic dictator’ Gürlek (Turkish Minister of Justice): ‘As part of the legal proceedings relating to the attack in international waters against the Flotilla activists, and in accordance with the arrest warrants issued on 14 July 2026 against Benyamin Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch for “genocide”, the Ministry of Justice has asked the Ministry of the Interior to issue a ‘red notice’ for their international arrest’ Summary by points Spain calls on Israel to abandon the E1 project Spain has called on Israel to abandon its plans to build thousands of housing units in the Mevaseret Adumim (E1) area of the West Bank, which will link the Israeli settlement town of Ma’ale Adumim with East Jerusalem. This was stated by the Spanish Foreign Ministry. The leaders of Germany, France, Italia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Norway yesterday condemned the Israeli authorities’ decision to launch new tenders for the E1 project, which will split the West Bank of the River Jordan in two. “The Spanish Government urges the Israeli Government to revoke this decision, which contravenes international law, and to respect its international obligations,” the Ministry stated in a press release. Madrid also condemned the Israeli decision to issue tenders for “the construction of over 1,200 homes in settlements in the E1 area”. The ministry reiterated that Spain considers all Israeli settlements in the occupied territories to be contrary to international law and an obstacle to the implementation of the two-state solution and the achievement of peace. Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank remains a major source of contention with the international community and the Palestinian National Authority. The Palestinians regard this policy as an attempt to consolidate the Jewish state within their territories. At the end of May, the European Union imposed sanctions on several individuals and organisations involved in the violation of Palestinians’ rights in the West Bank in connection with Israeli settlement activities. Italia–Lebanon: Meloni meets Aoun in Taranto: ‘Support for efforts towards a just peace with Israel’ The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met the President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, today in Taranto on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the 20th Mediterranean Games. According to Palazzo Chigi, during the meeting, ‘the two leaders discussed the situation in Lebanon, the progress of negotiations with Israel and the scenarios surrounding the gradual withdrawal of UNIFIL, scheduled for 2027’. Prime Minister Meloni ‘reiterated Italy’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace with Israel, confirming Italy’s willingness to host further rounds of negotiations between the two nations’, the statement concluded. 21 August 2026 Araghchi: ‘Trump’s economic D-Day is doomed to failure’ The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has stated that President Donald Trump’s campaign against Tehran, dubbed ‘Economic D-Day’, is doomed to failure and that Iran has already faced similar pressure from the United States. This was reported by Iran International. “Fourteen years ago: ‘The most devastating sanctions in history’. Failed. Eight years ago: ‘Maximum pressure’. Failed. Five months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender’. Failed. Today: ‘The most devastating economic operation ever’. Doomed to failure’, Araghchi wrote on X. The minister also shared a post from 2012 in which the then Vice-President Joe Biden stated that sanctions against Iran were ‘the most devastating sanctions in the history of sanctions’. ‘We’ve seen this film before. Same story. Different bullies’, Araghchi added. Have questions or feedback about this article? Contact our editorial team. 21 August 2026 Power does not derive solely from a state’s military and economic capabilities, but from the asymmetries of vulnerability generated by interdependence. According to Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye (in Power and Interdependence), conventional wisdom has overestimated the importance of states and their aggregate power. Even a state that is dominant in many respects may be highly vulnerable in others. This lesson becomes all the more crucial as competition between states and non-state actors shifts increasingly into the cyber domain. The quagmire into which the United States appears to have become embroiled in the war with Iran, and the resilience of Tehran and its partners, point to a fundamental flaw in the reasoning that led to the conflict. As Ivan Arreguín-Toft observed in How the Weak Win Wars: ‘Although relative power matters, the interplay of the strategies employed by the actors matters more than the amount of power they possess at the outset of their conflict’. The United States and Israel attacked Iran in the belief that military superiority, economic sanctions, the elimination of the leadership, and the destruction of infrastructure and supply chains would severely weaken the Iranian regime. Most popular stories 21 August 2026 Eight Arab-Islamic states condemn Israel’s E1 settlement plan The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have issued a joint statement in which they condemn the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, with particular reference to the E1 settlement project east of East Jerusalem. The ministers described the E1 project as a ‘dangerous escalation” that would encourage settlement expansion and annexation, undermine the territorial contiguity of the occupied Palestinian territories and threaten the viability of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The statement also condemns the violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property, arguing that such acts have been carried out with the support of the Israeli authorities and that these actions violate international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. The ministers stated that the E1 plan undermines ongoing international efforts to achieve peace, citing US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive peace initiative, which includes a rejection of annexation and forced displacement, the implementation mechanisms set out in the plan, and Trump’s stated commitment not to allow the annexation of the West Bank. Reaffirming their support for the two-state solution, the ministers stated that it remains the only viable path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. 21 August 2026 A map of the risks Iran poses to European countries. And Erdogan’s double trigger Setting aside the alarmist reports in the Financial Times regarding US bases in Europe, the question that should be occupying Palazzo Chigi, the Élysée Palace, Downing Street and the German Chancellery today is not whether Iran has decided to ‘attack NATO’. There is no evidence of such a decision in the available government sources. The issue is more serious: to what extent is Europe’s military, energy and logistical apparatus now geared towards a crisis that originated in the Gulf but is no longer confined to the Gulf? By 2026, the distinction between the front line and the rear had become blurred. Cyprus had been reached. Bulgaria has become part of the American logistical hinterland. Hormuz has become a European economic variable. And NATO, in Ankara, has begun to treat all these phenomena as components of a single strategic problem. The most significant – and perhaps the least understood – event took place far from Brussels. On 2 March 2026, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed the House of Commons that an Iranian drone had struck the RAF Akrotiri area, within the British Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus, crashing just a few dozen metres from British personnel without causing any casualties. On 9 March, the then Defence Secretary John Healey explained to Parliament that London had strengthened its regional defences and authorised the use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia by the United States for specific defensive operations related to Iran. In short, it is sufficient for bases, tankers, ports, command networks and energy infrastructure located on the continent to become necessary for supporting American or allied operations. At that point, the issue is no longer merely where the target is located, but what function it serves. 21 August 2026 Netanyahu: Erdogan is an anti-Semitic dictator; we will not be intimidated “Erdogan is an anti-Semitic dictator who has massacred the Kurds, harbours Hamas terrorists, occupies half of Cyprus and imprisons a record number of journalists and political opponents. He is now seeking to extend his aggression against Israel into Syria. Israel will not tolerate this. Erdogan’s pathetic attempt to intimidate the leaders and soldiers of Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East, will not succeed.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made this statement in a note after the Turkish Minister of Justice announced an arrest warrant against him today. 21 August 2026 IDF: raid on Baraachit in southern Lebanon, within the security zone The IDF carried out a raid today on a facility in the Baraachit area, within the ‘Security Zone’ in southern Lebanon. This was announced by the IDF spokesperson in a statement, according to which ‘soldiers identified several suspects who had crossed into the “Security Zone” in the Baraachit area, had entered a building and posed a threat to the soldiers. Following their identification, the IDF carried out an attack on the building’. ‘The IDF remains committed to upholding the agreement between Israel and Lebanon’, the statement added. 21 August 2026 MSF: Dr Dima Mohammed Amin arrested in the West Bank “We are deeply disturbed by the news of the arrest of Dr Dima Mohammed Amin, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, who was taken from her home in the West Bank. Dr Dima is the latest victim of the campaign to detain Palestinian medical staff”. So says Médecins Sans Frontières on X. 21 August 2026 IDF launches investigation into Sa’ir shooting; Israeli civilians in the area without authorisation “This morning, IDF soldiers intervened in the Sa’ir area following reports that Palestinians were throwing stones at a group of Israeli civilians who were in the area without prior authorisation. As a result of the stone-throwing, several Israeli civilians were injured. A security officer opened fire, causing Palestinian casualties’’. This was reported by the IDF spokesperson in a statement regarding the events that took place this morning near the Palestinian town of Sa’ir, north of Hebron, in the southern West Bank. The man’s gunfire resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy and left a 70-year-old man seriously injured. The security officer referred to in the statement is the head of security for the adjacent Metzad settlement, who was called by settlers who were wandering without authorisation in the Sa’ir area – where entry by Israelis is prohibited – prompting the Palestinian reaction. According to the statement, ‘soldiers intervened to disperse the attackers and remove Israeli civilians from the area. District police officers are now on the scene alongside the soldiers to gather evidence and witness statements as part of the investigation that has been launched’’ The IDF also confirms reports of a fire set to a building under construction, without, however, attributing responsibility for it, noting that the fire service intervened to extinguish the flames. ’’The IDF states that the presence of Israeli civilians in the area without prior coordination and authorisation endangers their safety and diverts the soldiers’ attention from defence and counter-terrorism operations’’, the statement adds. 21 August 2026 Turkey issues an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over the Flotilla Turkey has issued an international arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the Gaza Flotilla case. This was announced by the government in Ankara. 21 August 2026 Pezeshkian: ‘It is better to end the war today from a position of strength’ ‘It is better to bring the war to an end today, whilst we are in a position of strength and dignity and the whole world recognises our victory and emphasises that America, in contravention of all the rules, has attacked our schools, our hospitals and our infrastructure and is hated throughout the world.’ According to the ISNA news agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made this statement at the 31st General Assembly of the Islamic Association of the Iranian Medical Society. 21 August 2026 Media: Settlers shoot and kill a young Palestinian in the West Bank A young Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli settlers in Khirbet Hamroush, north-east of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. This was reported by a medical source to Al Jazeera Arabic. 21 August 2026 Iran, Chief of the Armed Forces: any threat will be met with a devastating response “Any miscalculation and any threat, whether conventional or of a new kind, from our enemies will be met with revolutionary, crushing, deterrent and devastating responses”. This was stated by the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Ali Abdollahi, in a message sent to the acting Minister of Defence, Majid Ebn al-Reza, to mark Defence Industry Day, which is celebrated on 31 August. In the message, released by the Iranian Ministry of Defence, Abdollahi described the occasion as “an expression of Iran’s deterrent strength” in the face of international sanctions and pressure. According to the Chief of the General Staff, the defence industry represents “an indispensable pillar of national power” and plays a central role in strengthening the country’s security and dignity. “What has been achieved in recent years,” he emphasised, “goes beyond the production of military equipment: it is an industrial revolution in defence and deterrence”, encompassing design, technology management, the defence economy, knowledge-based supply chains and advanced production models. 21 August 2026 Iran, Ghalibaf: Planning is needed to counter the US economic war Iran “is not seeking war”, but “if we are not prepared for war, no one will respond to us when we resort to diplomacy”. This was stated by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, at a meeting held in Baghdad with Iranian and Iraqi business leaders, during which he also described economic pressures and US sanctions as “part of an economic war”, to be tackled through “planning”. “Military power alone is not enough without economic growth, domestic production and sustainable financial activity,” added Ghalibaf, emphasising that “security and the economy must be strengthened at the same time”. 21 August 2026 West Bank: Two Palestinians injured by gunfire from settlers Two Palestinian men were injured, one seriously, by gunfire from Israeli settlers in Khirbet Hamroush, a Palestinian village near the town of Sa’ir, north-east of Hebron, in the southern West Bank. This was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Channel 11 reports that IDF forces are heading to the scene. 21 August 2026 Iran, China opposes unilateral sanctions: not authorised by the UN China opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, in response to US calls to increase economic pressure on Iran. On 19 August, US President Donald Trump announced the launch of an “economic operation” against Iran, described as a “process of isolation on an unprecedented scale”, and called on Washington’s allies to join the initiative. And yesterday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Beijing to join the campaign and impose extreme sanctions on

They are desperate: Defiant Iran mocks US sanctions threat, says pressure will fail Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Washington appeared to be returning to familiar tactics after its military campaign against Tehran had failed to achieve its intended objectives. Iran has dismissed Washington's threat to impose what US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called "the toughest sanctions in history". Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi described the move as a sign of desperation and insisted that the latest US pressure campaign will fail to force Tehran into submission. Araqchi, in a video posted on Telegram on Sunday, said Washington appeared to be returning to familiar tactics after its military campaign against Iran had failed to achieve its intended objectives. Describing what he said were "repetitive scenarios", Araqchi said: "The fact that they (US leaders) have moved on from military operations ... to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate." He urged Washington to change its approach and engage Tehran on terms Iran considers respectful. He said the US must speak to Iran respectfully to find "a solution based on justice and honor". "We have never been afraid. All of their actions -- whether blockades or other military moves they have made -- have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well," he said. US THREATENS 'TOUGHEST SANCTIONS IN HISTORY' The Iranian response came days after Bessent said Washington was preparing an unprecedented sanctions package against Tehran. The Treasury secretary is scheduled to hold a press conference at 2 PM EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, when he is expected to provide details of the measures. Bessent said the sanctions would form part of a broader campaign aimed at putting maximum economic pressure on Iran. He suggested the strategy could reduce the need for another major US military operation. "It is a one-two punch. We have the blockade (on Iran), and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history," Bessent told CNBC, referring to a US naval blockade imposed on Iran in April and paused for a month in mid-June. "It is going to work in Iran and we are going to collapse this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision," he said. President Donald Trump had already threatened a wider economic campaign against countries and businesses seen as keeping Iran's economy afloat. In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump warned of "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale". "ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences," Trump wrote. Iran, however, has already endured decades of sanctions and says further restrictions will not alter its position. IRAN REMAINS DEFIANT AMID WAR The latest development follows as Iran's economy remains under severe strain following years of international restrictions and months of war. Iranian infrastructure has suffered repeated attacks, while thousands of people have been killed since the US and Israel launched their latest military campaign against the Islamic Republic on February 28. The conflict has also disrupted energy markets and shipping across the region. Iran has effectively brought traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a near standstill by refusing to allow unauthorised oil tankers to pass through the strategic waterway. Bessent said on Thursday that the US was seeking to maximise economic pressure rather than immediately return to large-scale military action. "I'm not sure why oil has popped up on this," Bessent told CNBC. "If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart," he said. The US and Iran have announced two ceasefire agreements, in April and June, intended to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and create a path towards ending the conflict. Both arrangements, however, quickly collapsed. TRUMP WARNS IRAN’S SUPPORTERS Washington has also put pressure on countries that continue to trade with Iran, particularly China, which remains the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. China purchased more than 80 per cent of Iran's shipped oil in 2025, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. Any attempt by Washington to impose penalties on Chinese entities could therefore have broader consequences for US-China relations. Bessent has urged Beijing to cooperate with Washington, arguing that China's dependence on Gulf energy makes it vulnerable to the disruption caused by the conflict. China, however, has rejected the use of additional sanctions as a solution. "Sanctions and pressure do not help resolve the problem," China's embassy in Washington said. "China calls on the relevant parties to take responsible actions and resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means," an embassy spokesperson said. Trump has also said Washington would impose economic consequences on countries that provide Iran with what he described as a "lifeline". On Friday, he said Iran wanted a deal but was unwilling to accept the terms demanded by Washington. "They would love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion," Trump said. PAKISTAN ARMY CHIEF TO VISIT TEHRAN Against this backdrop, Iran said Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, will visit Tehran on Monday to help restore peace and security in the region. Iran provided few details about the visit, but news agency Reuters reported that Munir was expected to discuss recent developments, including Washington's threat of fresh sanctions. Pakistan has been involved in efforts to mediate between the sides as the conflict has continued to disrupt regional security and energy supplies. Meanwhile, Iranian officials signal both defiance and an openness to diplomacy. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Saturday that Tehran had received "numerous messages" from neighbouring countries about possible new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation. He did not identify the countries involved but accused Washington of putting its regional allies at risk in support of Israel. Qalibaf said Iran favoured an independent, "homegrown" regional security structure that could provide lasting peace and stability.

Trump shares map of Hormuz as 'New US territory' as economic warfare escalates US President Donald Trump again shared an image calling the Strait of Hormuz "US territory" as Iran warned against Washington's economic pressure. Tehran condemned proposed fresh US sanctions, while tensions over the strategically vital waterway and Iran's oil trade continued to escalate. US President Donald Trump on Sunday again shared an image on Truth Social describing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as “NEW US Territory”, escalating his rhetoric over the key waterway as Iran maintained that the strait remains closed unless Washington changes its approach. Trump had first shared the same image on August 18, after previously declaring that he could soon claim the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. Speaking at a police academy on Long Island on August 14, Trump had said, “Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei has earlier hit back at US President Donald Trump’s claims over the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “The gap between America’s inability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and its claim to own it is greater than the 7,000-mile distance between Washington and the Strait itself.” He added, “Welcome to the post-American order in the Persian Gulf.” ECONOMIC WAR ESCALATES Trump’s latest post comes as Washington prepares to impose fresh sanctions on Iran, adding another layer to the growing economic confrontation between the two countries. Iran has condemned the planned sanctions, warning that they could further strain its economy and affect major trading partners, particularly China, which remains a key buyer of Iranian oil. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to announce what he has described as “the toughest sanctions in history” against Iran. He has also urged China to cooperate with Washington over Tehran’s oil exports. IRAN REJECTS US PRESSURE Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has criticised the planned sanctions as an attempt to impose US authority beyond its borders. “Such secondary sanctions find no foundation in international law,” Baghaei said in a post on X. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also warned neighbouring countries against supporting Washington’s economic campaign. “We are telling all nearby countries not to join the US economic war, otherwise we will consider them as enemies,” Rezaei said. HORMUZ REMAINS AT THE CENTRE The Strait of Hormuz has become the main flashpoint in the wider confrontation, with Iran maintaining that the waterway is closed and threatening action against unauthorised oil tankers. The disruption has severely affected global energy shipments. Only a handful of commodity vessels have crossed the strait, with major crude carriers and LNG tankers largely absent. Iran has, however, permitted some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through following requests from Baghdad. OIL FLOWS HIT BY CRISIS US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the US military had helped move an average of 8 million barrels of oil a day through the strait over a seven-day period. That is significantly below the more than 20 million barrels a day that moved through the waterway before the war, underscoring the impact of the crisis on global energy supplies. Iran’s ability to disrupt tanker traffic remains a major concern, with Tehran retaining significant missile and drone capabilities despite heavy damage to its military infrastructure. TRUMP AND IRAN REMAIN AT ODDS Trump has repeatedly warned countries against providing Iran with “any type of lifeline” and has insisted that Tehran must accept what Washington considers the right deal. Iran, meanwhile, has remained defiant while also signalling that it is open to diplomacy. President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for a diplomatic solution to end the conflict, arguing that Iran should seek an end to the war while retaining its strength and dignity. With Trump again referring to the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW US Territory” and Iran insisting that the waterway will remain closed without a change in Washington’s approach, the strategic passage remains at the heart of the escalating US-Iran confrontation.

The American president Donald Trump said in an interview with WABC 77 radio about the war with Iran: "The main reason that pushed me to do this is that we had no other choice. And if it were necessary, I would do the same a hundred times again. They cannot possess a nuclear weapon, and they will not possess it." Trump added: "We completely destroyed them militarily. Of course, they still have a number of missiles and unmanned aircraft, but their ability to manufacture these weapons has declined significantly compared to five months ago." He said: "Five months ago, they were carrying out effective attacks, but now it has become very difficult for them to attack any target." He added: "They are in a bad situation. Their inflation rate is around 300%, and their currency has collapsed almost completely. Also, their armed forces are not receiving salaries. So they are in an extremely bad situation." In reference to the Iran nuclear deal (the deal brokered during the Obama era), Trump said: "That was Obama’s deal that caused this catastrophe, and it’s the deal that was made years ago. If that deal had remained in place and if I had not canceled it, Iran would have obtained a nuclear weapon and would have used it very quickly. They would have destroyed Israel, and they would have destroyed the Middle East." Trump continued: "You saw it when these events began; what surprised everyone is that they started firing missiles at countries that were somewhat neutral. They attacked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain. No one really knew they were so involved, then they started targeting everyone." Trump added: "If they possessed nuclear weapons, they would have used them against everyone. And look, Israel would not have remained. If Donald Trump were not president, I believe the Middle East would have been completely destroyed, but Israel certainly would have been destroyed." Trump confirmed that the navy, air force, and the leadership of the Islamic Republic had been destroyed, and he said: "Part of the problem is that many of their leaders have been killed. It is difficult to reach an agreement. No one knows who is leading the country." The American president concluded: "But I think people see what we are doing, because Iran can never own a nuclear weapon; it’s that simple. And I think people see that, appreciate it, and respect it."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said new US sanctions on Iran went beyond what he called “economic warfare” against Tehran and amounted to an attempt to impose US authority over other countries. In a post on X, Baghaei argued that Washington had no legal right to force foreign banks, companies or airports to stop lawful trade with Iran, saying secondary sanctions violated the principle of sovereign equality. He said the sanctions, combined with the US naval blockade, threatened to make other countries’ sovereignty conditional on Washington’s approval. Baghaei warned that widespread compliance with such measures could erode the sovereignty of UN member states and lead to what he described as a return to “classic colonialism.” The Islamic Republic may want the world to forget what happened in January, but the bodies of those who survived make that difficult. Much of the attention since Iran’s bloody crackdown has rightly focused on those who were killed. Far less has been paid to those who lived. They went into the streets hoping this time would be different. For many, it was, but not in the way they had hoped. They survived being shot with metal pellets, beaten and, in some cases, slashed with machete-like weapons. Now doctors warn that some could spend the rest of their lives with permanent disabilities, chronic pain and dependent on opioids simply to manage it. “You’re creating a generation of people in chronic pain and potentially creating a generation of opiate dependence,”Dr. Sarah Raza, a trauma and vascular interventional radiologist in Los Angeles, told Iran International’s English-language podcastEye for Iran. Raza is accustomed to catastrophic injuries. She works across multiple Level I trauma centers, treating adults and children with gunshot wounds, severe bleeding and injuries from vehicle crashes. But she says nothing in her medical career prepared her for the scale of what she has seen among those wounded in Iran. “I have never seen this scale,” she said. Working with Physicians for Human Rights, Raza has remotely assessed hundreds of injured Iranians, often through secure communications because patients fear seeking treatment inside the country. She says every patient she assessed spoke to medical teams from a home, a neighbor’s home or a relative’s home rather than a medical facility. What she found was a pattern of injuries that could follow survivors for decades. Hundreds of tiny metal pellets can remain embedded in a single person, lodged in skin, tendons and joints and near major nerves and blood vessels. Raza says more than 95 percent cannot safely be removed because surgery itself could damage arteries, nerves and other surrounding structures. For some survivors, even ordinary movement may become a source of pain. “Every time you bend your finger, you’re going to feel that pellet and it’s going to cause pain,” Raza said. “You’re going to have chronic inflammation. You’re going to need to be on steroids to manage the chronic inflammation. You’re going to need to be on opioids.” The consequences, she warns, can include blindness, nerve damage, chronic inflammation, disfigurement and permanent disability, with some survivors unable to work or even walk. “These will cause chronic disability, chronic nerve issues, chronic pain to the point of disfigurement, to the point of people being unable to work, walk,” Raza said. Among the patients she described was a six-year-old boy. Metal pellets struck his face during the protests and remain embedded in his skull, face and near his eye socket. Because of the concentration of nerves and blood vessels in the area, Raza says they cannot safely be removed. “He’s going to live his whole life with pellets embedded in his skull, in his face, near his orbit,” she said. He was six years old when he was wounded. The crackdown could remain physically inside his body for the rest of his life. For Raza, his injuries represented something even more disturbing. “This is their way of inflicting lifelong torture,” she said. “This is making someone’s body a prison.” She described another patient, a 16-year-old construction worker whose mother had died and whose father, in his 70s, has cancer. The teenager was the family’s sole breadwinner. In addition to pellet wounds, Raza said he suffered a deep laceration across his hand after people entered the crowds striking protesters with what she described as “machete-like objects.” The wound cut down to his tendons. But his greatest concern was not his own pain. “How am I going to feed my family?” Raza recalled him asking. He wanted to know whether he could return to work so he could continue supporting his father and buying his chemotherapy medication. “What can I do so I can go back to work? I need to feed my father. I need to buy him medicine, chemotherapy medicine,” Raza recalled him saying. For Raza, his case shows how permanent injury to one protester can ripple through an entire family. “This is the multi-generational physical, psychological trauma that they have inflicted,” she said. Raza also believes the location and pattern of the pellet injuries are significant. She says she repeatedly saw pellets concentrated around areas rich in nerves and blood vessels, including the eyes, neck, torso and genitalia. “This is not crowd control,” she said. “This is an intentional use of this weapon to inflict maximum pain, not only in the moment, but for years on.” She makes an even more explicit assessment of the injuries she documented. “This pattern is not coincidental,” Raza said. “It is intentionally inflicted to cause maximum amount of pain, injury throughout your life.” There is another consequence. The pellets that injure protesters may also identify them. Because the fragments are metal and often cannot be removed, Raza says they can remain visible on X-rays and potentially detectable years later. Patients told her they feared their injuries could effectively mark them as people who had participated in the protests. “Their wounds, their injuries have now become identifying markers for attack and targeted persecution later,” she said. For survivors, then, the injury can become both punishment and evidence: a source of chronic pain that may never leave their bodies, and a physical record of what happened to them. The dead can be counted. The lifetime carried by those who survived is much harder to measure. Warnings from senior Iranian officials about the cost of prolonging the war are increasingly converging with Washington’s central pressure point: whether Iran can economically sustain the conflict. The warnings come as President Donald Trump launches an “Economic D-Day” against Iran, describing it as the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country” and seeking to deepen Tehran’s financial isolation. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday Iran should seek to end the war now, linking his appeal to mounting financial constraints and the economic consequences of continued fighting. “It is better to end the war today, when we are powerful and respected and the whole world acknowledges our victory,” Pezeshkian said. His comments went beyond the case for ending hostilities. Pezeshkian said the maritime blockade had complicated Iran’s imports and exports and that the government lacked resources to meet some of its obligations to workers, retirees and government employees. “The government is facing financial constraints. When we chant slogans, we must also accept the hardship that comes with them,” he said. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf delivered a similar economic warning during a visit to Baghdad, saying military strength could not preserve the Islamic Republic without growth, domestic production and functioning financial flows. “No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we don't have financial circulation, economic growth and domestic production, we will not endure,” Ghalibaf said Thursday. The comments put two of Iran’s most senior elected officials on the same terrain Washington has increasingly emphasized: the economic capacity of the Islamic Republic to keep fighting. Washington turns to economic pressure President Donald Trump announced this week the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country,” targeting Iran and warning of economic consequences for countries, companies and financial institutions that continue providing it with support. Vice President JD Vance has said the war has entered a phase in which economic pressure is Washington’s most effective tool, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would impose the “toughest sanctions in history.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected that premise Friday, saying Trump’s campaign was “bound to fail” like previous rounds of US pressure. “14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed. 8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed. Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.’ Bound to fail,” Araghchi wrote on X. “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” he added. Trump reinforced his own message Friday by reposting a Truth Social post from US lawyer David Schoen saying the president had given Iran “every possible chance” to change course. Schoen wrote that Trump had offered Tehran opportunities to change its behavior and had made clear the consequences if it refused. Oil and shipping flows shrink Shipping and oil data provide a measure of the pressure Washington is seeking to intensify. Only seven commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, half the previous day’s total, according to initial Kpler data cited by Reuters. Four entered the waterway and three exited. No very large crude carriers or LNG tankers were among them. Separate Kpler figures showed an even steeper decline in Iranian oil loadings. They fell to 287,000 barrels this month, compared with around 2 million barrels per day in March and April, according to Kpler analyst Homayoun Falakshahi. Falakshahi said oil already outside the blockade area could continue reaching China and generating revenue for several months. If the blockade remains in place, he said, Iran’s oil income would then move toward zero. That pressure is also visible in trade with China, Iran’s largest crude buyer. Kpler data cited by Reuters showed Chinese imports of Iranian oil averaging 534,000 barrels per day so far in August, down from 1.4 million barrels per day in 2025. Pezeshkian’s call draws pushback Pezeshkian’s argument for ending the war quickly also met resistance from an outlet affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards. The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency said calls for an end to the conflict had been circulating among “bankrupt politicians in the media space” and said that language was now being repeated by the president. “The enemy is like a wolf that smells weakness and, instead of retreating, begins a harder attack,” Fars wrote. It said appeals to end the war could signal that Iran was exhausted and looking for a rapid exit. Whether aimed at domestic or foreign audiences, the competing messages are increasingly being tested against conditions inside Iran. Trump is betting that heavier economic pressure can force a change in Tehran’s course; Ghalibaf has warned that regardless of military strength, the Islamic Republic “will not endure” if people are hungry and the economy cannot function. A warning by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf that Iran cannot endure if its people go hungry has exposed tensions in Tehran over acknowledging economic strain, with hardliners arguing that signs of weakness will encourage further US pressure. Speaking at a meeting with Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad on Thursday, Ghalibaf stressed that economic strength must accompany military power. “No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we do not have financial circulation and economic growth, we will not endure,” he said. He also called for planning to confront what he described as unjust sanctions. His remarks drew criticism from hardline commentators, who argued that acknowledging the impact of US economic pressure could help Washington. Masoud Barati, a former state television presenter, wrote on X that Ghalibaf’s comments, coming as US President Donald Trump escalated his economic campaign against Iran, conveyed “a message of weakness.” He said such a message reinforced the image of a weak Iran and encouraged the enemy to increase pressure. Warnings against projecting weakness were also a recurring theme in Friday prayers across Iran, whose broad themes are set by a government institution. The dispute comes as the Trump administration prepares what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described as the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, combining the existing US blockade with unprecedented sanctions aimed at collapsing the Islamic Republic. Bessent also said the United States was seeking the “greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world” and would press allies and other countries, including China, to join the campaign. US Vice President JD Vance has said Tehran will not be able to withstand the pressure indefinitely, whether for “a couple of weeks or a couple of months or possibly longer.” Vance acknowledged that Iran is also applying economic pressure on the United States, but said Tehran is feeling the greater impact. Iranian-Canadian political analyst Shahir Shahid-Sales argued in a post on X that increasing economic pressure would not leave the Islamic Republic passively watching its own collapse. “This system has no choice but to launch a widespread war, especially when such a decision is backed by high and false confidence,” he wrote, warning that ordinary Iranians would pay the price of the confrontation. Tehran rejects pressure campaign Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the broad economic and trade sanctions, calling them evidence of the “anti-human, lawless and hegemonic nature” of the US government. “Sanctions and economic pressure are the other side of the coin of war and military aggression,” the ministry said. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, dismissed what Trump has called “Economic D-Day” as a diversion from America’s own economic problems. “The so-called ‘Economic D-Day’ is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt and surging interest costs,” Araghchi wrote on X. “Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat—and enmity of Iranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide.” In another post, he described the “most crushing economic operation in history” as a repeated scenario destined to fail. President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, has repeatedly acknowledged Iran’s deteriorating economic situation in speeches and interviews, adding to the contrast between Tehran’s public dismissal of Washington’s strategy and concerns voiced by senior officials about conditions at home. Friday prayers rally against US pressure Friday prayer leaders across Iran responded extensively to US officials’ warnings over the economic campaign, while reiterating support for keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. Habibollah Ghafouri in Kermanshah described the renewed talk of sanctions and economic blockade as a clear admission of the “enemies’ failure against the Iranian nation and the Islamic front” after what he called their failure on the military front. In Ardabil, Hassan Ameli called Trump’s statements a “major psychological operation,” saying they were intended to influence public sentiment and Iran’s markets. In Semnan, Morteza Motiei argued that the United States was facing its own high costs, logistical challenges and international pressure rather than inflicting greater damage on Iran. In Sari, Mohammad-Bagher El-Eini said Iran had seized control of the Strait of Hormuz

Friday, August 21, 2026 AD Home Top News Markets Energy Forex Automobiles Opinion Exclusive Interviews All Sections Economy Historical sanctions on Iran… will they lead to a clash between Washington and Tehran? Threat of the harshest sanctions against Tehran China clings to Iran’s oil lifeline A economic war that threatens a broader confrontation !Historical sanctions on Iran… will they lead to a clash between Washington and Tehran? U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at a press conference in Rosenbad, Stockholm, Sweden, on July 29, 2025. Source: (AFP) Amr Fouad Publication date: August 21, 2026, 4:20 AM The United States is moving to escalate its war against Iran from the battleground to the economy, after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pledged to impose “the strictest sanctions in history” on Tehran in an effort to choke its resources and reduce the need for broad new military operations. But the American plan faces a bigger test from Iran, as China buys more than 80% of Iranian crude loaded, making the success of the new sanctions linked to Beijing’s willingness to give up one of its most important sources of oil supplies, or face U.S. sanctions that could turn pressure on Tehran into an economic confrontation between the world’s two largest economies. And the new U.S. sanctions appear to be more than just another round of pressure on Iran; they test Washington’s ability to use the global financial and business system as an economic weapon without opening a new front with China. Related News Historical Sanctions Yellen said the United States will impose “the strictest sanctions in history” on Iran, noting that the full details of the new package will be announced at a press conference on Monday. The proposed sanctions come in addition to the naval blockade Washington imposed on Iran, in an attempt to cut Iran’s revenues used to fund its economy during the ongoing war for about six months. Yellen argues that combining the blockade with sanctions represents a double blow that could put strong pressure on the Iranian economy, considering that intensifying economic pressure could reduce the need to resume broad military operations. But Tehran rejected the American escalation, calling the sanctions “economic terrorism,” and stressing that the pressure will not push it to abandon its stance. Oil at the Heart of the War The U.S. move comes as oil prices rose to their highest levels in more than three weeks, with renewed fears about Middle East supply and continued restrictions on movement through the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz Strait holds exceptional importance in the equation, as about a fifth of global oil shipments passed through it before the war, while the conflict disrupted a large part of energy traffic through the vital corridor. Yellen said markets misinterpret the impact of economic pressure on oil, noting that tightening sanctions could reduce the likelihood of resuming broad military operations, which is expected to ease the risk premium on crude. But the market looks at the other side of the equation: harsher sanctions could also mean tightening the squeeze on Iranian oil exports, raising supply risks if Washington does not quickly find a substitute for barrels that may disappear from the market. Related News China is the Key ANZ analysts believe the story could move from Tehran to Beijing, as oil shipment data show China is the largest buyer of Iranian crude, absorbing more than 80% of shipped Iranian oil. ANZ analysts wrote in a note: “The data mean Washington will not be able to test the effectiveness of the new sanctions without testing China’s willingness to comply.” They added: “Targeting Chinese buyers or companies could turn secondary sanctions into a direct source of tension between Washington and Beijing.” Washington has previously targeted a Chinese refinery for buying Iranian oil, and sanctioned Chinese-linked companies and ships involved in Iranian crude trading, showing Washington’s readiness to use its financial tools against Chinese actors. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Stockholm, Sweden, July 28, 2025. Source: (AFP) Beijing Refuses China rejected the logic of U.S. sanctions, saying its embassy in Washington that sanctions and pressure do not help solve the problem, urging the parties to take responsible actions and resort to political and diplomatic solutions. But China’s position is not solely about Iran; Beijing relies heavily on Gulf energy, so stabilizing Hormuz and oil markets is directly in China’s interest. Yellen pointed to this exact point, saying China gets about half of its energy needs from the Gulf, and joining the U.S. path would serve its interests. Related News Economic Clash Economists at Capital Economics say this equation places China before a hard choice: giving up Iranian oil could help it avoid U.S. sanctions, but could raise the cost of safeguarding its supply at a time when energy markets are already unsettled by war. Continuing to purchase Iranian crude could put Chinese companies and banks at risk of secondary U.S. sanctions and open a new front in the U.S.-China relationship. The confrontation’s sensitivity grows as China does not rely on Iran only for energy; the United States also relies on Chinese supply chains in strategic sectors, including rare earth minerals, giving Beijing tools to respond if sanctions turn into a broad campaign against its interests. Testing Sanctions and the Hormuz Iran has faced U.S. sanctions for decades, yet managed to maintain large oil exports through shipping networks, intermediaries, and alternative markets, which means the success of the new package depends not only on its toughness but on Washington’s ability to shut sale, finance, insurance, and transport channels. Recent experience suggests targeting ships, companies, and refineries could raise the cost of Iranian oil trade, but not necessarily stop it, especially if China remains willing to receive a large share of these shipments. The importance of sanctions grows with the Hormuz Strait crisis, as any further economic escalation could push Iran to use its leverage over navigation as a counter-pressure card. Analysts see Washington facing a delicate equation: the tighter the sanctions on Iranian oil exports, the more important it is to keep the Hormuz open to global energy shipments, because success in reducing Iran’s exports could become a bigger problem if escalation disrupts regional supply. Related News Greater Confrontation Oil markets view the new sanctions as a double-edged sword: if Washington can pressure Iran without a new military escalation, the risk premium could fall and part of the supply could return to the market. If sanctions clash with China, the issue could shift from an effort to choke the Iranian economy to a broader trade and financial crisis, especially if Beijing responds with countermeasures or uses its influence in vital supply chains. If Beijing complies with the sanctions, Tehran could face its toughest economic test in years; if China refuses to join the U.S. campaign, sanctions could mark the start of a new confrontation between Washington and Beijing. In both cases, oil and the Hormuz Strait remain at the heart of the equation, because the success of the U.S. economic war will ultimately depend on one question: can Washington choke Iran without choking its economic relationship with China? Related News The U.S. sanctions China Oil prices U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Hormuz Strait Iran War Related Materials EnergyOil in Hormuz’s Grip… Will the “Sanctions War” Ignite a Barrel Price? 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A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response to the U.S. decision to tighten sanctions on Iran, stated that tightening sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue. Mehr News Agency, citing al-Mayadeen, reported that China responded to the latest hostile U.S. move against Iran, which is Trump’s announcement of intensifying the economic war on Tehran. According to the report, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in response to the U.S. decision to tighten sanctions on Iran, said that tightening sanctions and pressure will not contribute to solving the matter. President Donald Trump had claimed in the early hours of the morning, in his latest statement against Iran, that he announced an “economic operation” against Iran that has not been undertaken against any other country before. He claimed, despite the fact that none of his plans to subdue Iran have succeeded so far, that this would be an unprecedented economic war and isolation against Iran. In an attempt to justify his failures in military operations and the unjust naval blockade against Iran, Trump claimed that these historic measures would paralyze the Iranian movement. /end/

The United States is preparing a new round of sanctions against Iran that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said would be the “toughest sanctions in history.” Bessent said the new measures would work alongside the existing US blockade and could help avoid a return to large-scale military action. “It is a one-two punch. We have the blockade, and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history,” Bessent told CNBC on Thursday. “It is going to work in Iran and we are going to collapse this regime,” he said, adding that he would hold a news conference on Monday to explain the measures. The dispute has also pushed oil prices to more than three-week highs. US presses China over Hormuz Bessent called on China to cooperate with Washington’s efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring down energy prices. “We are confident that everyone wants the Strait reopened, and for energy prices to come back down,” he said. He pointed to China’s dependence on energy from the Gulf, saying about 50% of the country’s energy comes from the region. China is also the main buyer of Iranian crude. It accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil in 2025, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. When asked whether the United States could target China for continuing to do business with Iran, Bessent did not give details, saying some discussions were better held privately. Further US action against Chinese companies dealing with Iran could have wider economic consequences, as China is also a major supplier to the United States, including of critical rare-earth minerals. China rejected the US approach. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said sanctions and pressure would not help solve the problem and urged all sides to act responsibly and pursue political and diplomatic solutions. Trump warns countries against supporting Iran Bessent’s comments came a day after President Donald Trump warned countries against providing Iran with any type of “lifeline”. Trump said the US campaign would target Iran’s economic networks, including oil-smuggling operations, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies. He called the effort an “ECONOMIC D-DAY” and warned that countries providing financial, commercial or government support to Tehran could face “tremendous economic consequences”. Trump has repeatedly said Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. Iran has rejected Washington’s pressure campaign. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised Trump’s latest comments and accused him of trying to divert attention from economic problems in the United States, including rising debt and interest costs. Araghchi said Trump’s so-called “Economic D-Day” would bring further “defeat” and “enmity of Iranians” if Washington continued to increase sanctions. Iran calls US sanctions ‘economic terrorism’ Iran’s foreign ministry accused the United States on Thursday of using sanctions that affect the rights of Iranian citizens. The ministry said in a statement carried by state media that the US economic sanctions amounted to “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity”. It said those responsible for the sanctions should face trial and punishment. Iran has faced extensive US-led sanctions for decades, dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Bessent said Washington’s strategy of maximum economic pressure could reduce the possibility of another large-scale military campaign. References: Firstpost, TOI RELATED POSTS RELATED POSTS Disclaimer : The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website. Disclaimer : The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.

In a post on his X account on Sunday, Ghalibaf rebuked Trump and his planned initiatives, sharing a video showing that economic pressure on Iran and disruptions in energy markets could ultimately have consequences for the United States. “Importing frozen meat to fix meat prices? Okay, that might work,” he wrote, referring to recent measures by the US president to control prices of goods in his country, but simultaneously questioned how the Trump administration plans to address other economic challenges. “What’s your plan for bonds?” Ghalibaf hit out at Trump, taunting him as if he is going to import “frozen yields for bonds, frozen homebuyers for housing, and frozen paychecks for wages.” Stating that “a frozen foreign policy produces a frozen [stagnant] economy,” the top parliamentarian warned the US president that “the only thing still moving is Iran’s boomerang, coming right back at your face.” Ghalibaf’s warning followed Trump’s announcement that he would take the “most crushing” economic operation ever against Iran, calling on his allies to join him in a new campaign to isolate the Iranian economy—a threat Tehran has dismissed as “US economic terrorism.”

Iran promises to resist interference by foreign 'enemies' as Trump threatens new sanctions Iran’s parliament speaker said efforts by "enemies" to drive Iran and Iraq apart will instead deepen their relationship, as Trump threatened "tremendous" costs for those working with the Islamic Republic. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told an Arbaeen ceremony in the city of Karbala on Thursday that history, geography and shared religious beliefs bound the countries together. “We were two nations that refused to become a footnote in others’ narratives and did not allow our destiny to be written in western capitals,” he said. Ghalibaf said Tehran and Baghdad would not let foreign governments decide their futures. He argued that the two countries should build on their security cooperation and “unite to achieve economic prosperity and development”. Iran and Iraq should pursue joint projects that improve living standards, strengthen economic independence and curb outside influence across the region, Ghalibaf added, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency. His comments come as US President Donald Trump announced he would come down hard on Iran's allies as the war on the country continues without resolution. The US continues to be unable to militarily assert its control over the Strait of Hormuz, with a ceasefire between the two countries all but collapsed. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said on Thursday that the US would impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran, vowing to ramp up economic pressure on the Islamic Republic even as the economic toll of the war builds. "It is a one-two punch. We have the blockade [on Iran], and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history," Bessent told CNBC. "It is going to work in Iran, and we are going to collapse this regime,” he said, adding that the sanctions will be explained on Monday. Bessent’s statements come a day after Trump said that he was launching an "economic D-Day" on Iran, and warned that any country helping Tehran would face "TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences". Iran said in response that the new sanctions would target ordinary Iranians and amounted to "economic terrorism" and crimes against humanity. Energy crisis A rise in energy prices has proved a problem for the Trump administration as it tries to tame rising borrowing costs. Brent Oil, the international benchmark, was up two percent on Thursday, trading at $93.41 per barrel. The war has also upended the global shipping trade, with the cost of chartering a tanker skyrocketing. BWET, an Exchange Traded Fund that allows investors to bet on the shipping rates, has soared 98 percent over the past month. Asked about rising energy prices, Bessent said: ”We have asymmetric information, and I'm not sure why oil has popped up on this." Iran has continued attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while its partner in Yemen, Ansar Allah (known as the Houthis), has imposed a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The kingdom, which relies on the waterway to export oil, has been forced to pipe crude to the Mediterranean via Egypt. Bessent on Thursday also urged China to “get with the programme” over proposed sanctions on Iran, saying Beijing would benefit from the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lower energy prices. Asked in a CNBC interview whether Washington could target China for doing business with Iran, Bessent said such discussions were best held in private but that the United States was confident everyone wanted the strait reopened and energy prices to fall. “The Chinese get 50 percent [of their] energy from inside the Gulf. So it would do them a big service to get with the programme,” he said.

EN 30 SECONDS - What happened? The Iranian regime has warned its neighbors that cooperating with the United States’ sanctions campaign will make them “enemies” and has threatened retaliation “like an earthquake.” - Who is behind it? The administration of Donald Trump, which is preparing what is presented as the harshest sanctions campaign in history against Iran, according to the American publication Breitbart. - What impact does it have? The escalation increases the risk around the Hormuz Strait, through which a significant portion of the oil that the European Union and, with it, Spain, imports passes. Tehran warned this Saturday to its neighbors that cooperating with the United States’ sanctions campaign will turn them into enemies. The threat, reported by the American publication Breitbart, comes as Washington prepares what the White House describes as the harshest sanctions campaign in history against Iran. The Tehran warning to its neighbors The Iranian note is not limited to a diplomatic caution. According to the text disseminated this Saturday, any country in the region that joins the “economic war” pushed by President Donald Trump will be treated as an enemy. Tehran adds that the interests of those countries could be the target of retaliation, with a formula that the threat itself describes as “similar to an earthquake.” The declaration comes at a moment of maximum tension. The United States has not yet detailed the exact schedule of the new sanctions, but sources in the administration consulted by American media insist that it will be an unprecedented package, focused on choking Iran’s export capacity. Tehran has not waited. The threat of “earthquake-like” retaliation is interpreted, above all, as a warning to Gulf countries that host American bases or that could act as financial and logistical intermediaries for the new round of sanctions. Oil, Hormuz, and the Spanish energy bill The Hormuz channel is again at the center of the board. Through that strait circulates about a fifth of the world’s oil, and although Spain does not buy a significant share of Iranian crude, it indirectly depends on the price balance in global markets. A sustained interruption of traffic would trigger a rise in Brent, and with it, the European energy bill. Washington’s sanctions are not improvisation: they are the same maximum pressure playbook that Trump applied against Iran from 2018 to 2020. The European Union has tried to maintain an independent position. Washington, however, has made clear that there will be no exemptions: secondary sanctions can reach any bank or company that facilitates operations with sanctioned Iranian entities. For Spanish refineries, the effect would not be so much on supply as on price and regulatory pressure. The Spanish government has not yet officially reacted to this new escalation. In Madrid, the priority is to avoid further increases in crude prices at a time when underlying inflation continues to condition budgets. If the conflict worsens, Spain’s position will go through Brussels and negotiations with Washington rather than a direct clash with Tehran. Washington’s Logic Donald Trump’s gamble does not arise from nothing. It is a reissue of the maximum pressure campaign he already applied in his first term, when he took the United States out of the 2015 nuclear deal and strangled Iranian crude exports with secondary sanctions. The declared objective then and now is the same: deny Tehran the revenues that fund its nuclear program and its network of regional militias. The coalition backing this line within the Republican Party is broad and has been consolidated for years. For the national security wing, Iran is the main asymmetric threat in the Middle East. For sectors closest to Israel and Gulf partners, economic pressure is an alternative to military intervention. Washington’s logic is not only to punish: it aims to force Tehran to renegotiate from a position of weakness. The historical precedent is clear. In 2018, exiting the JCPOA and the collapse of Iranian exports did not topple the regime, but drastically reduced its fiscal margin and fueled internal protests. The White House believes that a repetition, now with a more fragmented regional scenario, could have more effect. That is the bet. For Spain, the immediate reading is energetic. The coming weeks will confirm whether Tehran fulfills its threat against neighbors who cooperate with Washington or if, as in 2019, rhetoric outpaces action. The key will not be in Madrid or Tehran, but in Hormuz transit and in the response from European partners to the new round of sanctions. Case File - The case: Tehran warns neighboring countries that cooperating with the Trump administration’s sanctions campaign will turn them into enemies, with a threat of retaliation “similar to an earthquake.” - Key data: The United States is preparing what it presents as the harshest sanctions campaign in its history against Iran; the Iranian warning is spreading this Saturday according to Breitbart; the Hormuz strait channels around a fifth of global oil. - For Spain: The main exposure is energy and prices: a disruption in Hormuz would raise the price of crude imported by the Spanish economy, with inflationary risk and regulatory pressure on companies with trade links in the region.

Trump threatens with “the harshest sanctions in history” against Iran: can he isolate Tehran? The Trump administration's strategy toward Iran has entered a phase of maximum financial pressure after almost six months of open conflict in the Middle East. Following an intensive bombing campaign led by the United States and Israel, combined with a naval blockade that has left Iranian oil exports in the Persian Gulf semiparalyzed, Washington seeks to force Tehran's capitulation by choking its remaining sources of income. In this context, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the preparation of an unprecedented package of economic sanctions in contemporary history. The head of American finance hinted that this total encirclement— which includes stern warnings of retaliation to key buyers such as China— aims to collapse the Islamic regime and minimize the need to resume large-scale military operations. The decisive question, however, is not whether the United States can impose new sanctions. It can do so. The real question is how far Washington can go without turning pressure on Iran into an economic confrontation with China, Turkey, Iraq, India, and other countries that still maintain commercial ties with Tehran. Trump announced on Wednesday a campaign he defined as a “war economy and isolation operation,” accompanied by a direct warning: any country whose banks, companies, airports, or institutions provide Iran with a survival avenue will face “TREMENDOUS economic consequences.” The next day, Mnuchin was even more explicit. He assured that Washington will apply “the harshest sanctions in history” and stated that the combination of the blockade and the new sanctions will eventually cause the Iranian regime to collapse. The details, he announced, will be presented on Monday. The military campaign has not yet achieved the political result Washington sought: to bring Tehran to accept an agreement on American terms. Moreover, the conflict is approaching six months, and the economic and energy costs are beginning to weigh on the United States as well. Mnuchin even suggested that maximum economic pressure could make another large military offensive less likely. In other words, Washington seems to be trying to replace part of the bomb power with the power of the U.S. financial system. The problem has a name: China. The greatest difficulty in economically isolating Iran is not in Tehran, but in Beijing. China is, by far, the main buyer of Iranian oil. According to Kpler data, the Asian giant continued to be Iran’s primary crude destination, while Chinese independent refineries benefited from discounted prices due to U.S. sanctions. The United States can sanction banks, shipping companies, middlemen, and oil companies that do business with Iran. It can also use so-called secondary sanctions, penalizing foreign entities that do business with Iranian-sanctioned sectors. But attempting to apply that policy with full force to China is different. Beijing is not a minor commercial partner who can be easily substituted or neutralized. It is one of the world's leading economies, an energy and industrial power, and, in addition, an actor capable of responding commercially to Washington. The Chinese government itself has already rejected the logic of pressure. Its official position is that “sanctions and pressure do not help solve the problem” and that the solution must be political and diplomatic. Therefore the question “Can Trump pull Iran away from China?” has a far more complex answer than a simple yes or no. Washington can raise the cost, complicate, and make trade between the two countries more risky. What is far harder is getting Beijing to completely abandon a relationship it considers useful and strategic. Iran has spent decades learning to survive sanctions, a key factor that limits American expectations because the Islamic Republic has not entered this new phase with an economy open to the world. During this period under Western restrictions, the country has developed solid mechanisms to maintain part of its exports, using intermediaries, shell companies, and complex maritime networks to move oil in a hard-to-trace way. This web does not eliminate the effect of sanctions, but it reduces the ability to produce absolute isolation. Economic pressure can reduce state revenues, increase transaction costs, and limit investments. What it does not automatically guarantee is political capitulation. The United States can make Iran have fewer resources. Another question is whether that deterioration will force its leaders to accept an agreement. The history of sanctions shows that the outcome depends on the combination of economic pressure, resilience capacity, alternative trade routes, and political calculation of the sanctioned government. Moreover, China is not the only problem for the isolation strategy. Turkey maintains an important economic and energy relationship with Iran. Iraq also depends partly on Iranian energy supply and maintains significant trade with its neighbor. Oman has historically maintained a special relationship with Tehran and has acted as a diplomatic intermediary between Iran and the West. There are also trade ties with India, Pakistan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. For Washington, turning all those countries into enforcers of U.S. policy would require a combination of diplomatic pressure and secondary sanctions. And each case poses a different problem: energy, cross-border trade, regional security, or national interests. The issue is particularly delicate for Iraq. Its electrical system has relied for years on energy from Iran. Punishing Baghdad for maintaining certain exchanges could create an energy problem in a country Washington considers strategic. The United Arab Emirates has already taken a step One development that initially benefits, at least, the U.S. strategy is the decision by the United Arab Emirates to suspend its trade and financial relations with Iran. The total embargo was decreed a few hours after the Emirati air defenses detected the launch of two ballistic missiles from Iranian territory. According to the Ministry of Defense in Abu Dhabi, the projectiles fell into the sea and were intended to directly sabotage commercial maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf. The Tehran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, for his part, categorically rejected the accusations, calling them “baseless.” This radical rupture undermines Abu Dhabi’s historic détente policy. The economic impact is expected to be devastating for Tehran, given that the UAE port of Jebel Ali in Dubai served as Iran's main financial lifeline in the region and its largest re-export hub to evade international sanctions. The Strait of Hormuz is essential to the global energy market. The war has already disrupted maritime transportation, and any further reduction in Iranian exports could affect the international price of oil. In fact, crude prices rose after the new U.S. threats. Mnuchin even expressed surprise at that reaction, considering that a campaign of maximum economic pressure could reduce the probability of a new military offensive. But the market may interpret the problem differently: if Iranian oil supply is restricted even further and uncertainty in Hormuz continues, the risk of shortage increases and prices could rise. That is one of Trump’s great dilemmas. Pressure on Iran can reduce its oil revenues, but an escalation that further disrupts global supply could also end up affecting American consumers and businesses. And the cost of energy has a politically sensitive dimension for any U.S. administration. @mundiario

Iran’s foreign minister dismissed the threat of new U.S. sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. ET on Monday, has threatened to impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran. Iran’s economy is already under huge pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has been hit repeatedly and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on February 28. But Tehran remains defiant after nearly six months of war and has brought shipping to a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, refusing to allow unauthorized oil tankers to transit a waterway that is vital for global oil shipments. The effective blockade of the strait has pushed up global oil prices. Describing what he said were “repetitive scenarios”, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a video posted on Telegram: “The fact that they (U.S. leaders) have moved on from military operations ... to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate.” He said Washington must speak to Iran respectfully to find “a solution based on justice and honor.” “We have never been afraid. All of their actions - whether blockades or other military moves they have made - have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well,” he said. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of economic consequences against any country that provides “any type of lifeline to Iran” and Bessent has urged cooperation with Washington by China, which buys more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. China has urged diplomacy. Pakistan’s army chief to visit Tehran Iran said Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, would visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the region, but gave few details. Pakistan has been mediating in the conflict and a Pakistani government source said Munir would touch on recent developments including the U.S. threat of new sanctions. Trump said on Friday that Washington was observing “what happens” in the conflict. “They would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion,” Trump said of Iran. U.S. attacks have severely diminished Iran’s economy and devastated its navy and air force, but Tehran maintains enough missile and drone capability to impede oil tanker traffic and attack regional rivals. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Saturday that Tehran had received “numerous messages” from neighbouring countries about establishing new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation. Ghalibaf did not say which countries he was referring to. He accused the U.S. of endangering the security of its allies in the region for the sake of Israel, adding that an independent, “homegrown” regional order would deliver peace and security. Trump has yet to achieve objectives he set at the start of the war such as dismantling Iran’s nuclear program — the state of which remains uncertain given that U.N. inspectors have been shut out since 2025 — and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers. While Iran remains defiant, President Masoud Pezeshkian has also called for a diplomatic solution. “It would be better to end the war today, when we are powerful and have dignity, and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America, contrary to all regulations, attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure and is hated in the world,” the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying on Friday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has hit back at the Trump administration's latest economic pressure campaign against Tehran, drawing a parallel with previous US sanctions efforts that he says failed to achieve their objectives. Araghchi shared a screenshot on X of a post by former US President Barack Obama from October 2012, in which Obama quoted then-Vice President Joe Biden describing sanctions on Iran as “the most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions.” Sharing the post, Araghchi wrote: “14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.' Failed. 8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.' Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.' Failed. Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.' Bound to fail.” ALSO READ:'Enemies Coming To Plunder': Iran's Ghalibaf Calls On Muslim Nations To Protect Resources “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” he added. 14 years ago: “Most crippling sanctions in history.” Failed.8 years ago: “Maximum pressure.” Failed.5 months ago: “Unconditional surrender.” Failed.Today: “Most crushing economic operation ever.” Bound to fail.We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies.pic.twitter.com/CNMSopprV5 The post comes as the Trump administration prepares what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described as an unprecedented campaign to isolate Iran economically. Bessent has warned US allies and other countries, including China, that continuing to support Tehran could carry economic consequences. He described the planned campaign as “the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world.” He also said the message to US allies was effectively: “You are either with us or against us.” “It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,” Bessent said. “We are going to squash the economy of this murderous regime.” ALSO READ:Iranian President Calls For End To US War While Tehran Is Ahead President Donald Trump has separately described the planned measures as an “ECONOMIC D-DAY”. He warned that countries allowing their financial institutions, businesses, airports or government entities to provide “any type of lifeline” to Iran would face “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences”. Washington is seeking to restrict Iran's access to exchange houses, cash transfers, swap lines, ship registries, front companies and other channels that it says are being used to support Iranian oil exports. EssentialBusinessIntelligence, SharpMarketInsights, PracticalPersonal FinanceAdvice, DailyFuel,GoldandSilverPrices andLatestStories — On NDTV Profit.

The crushing “economic D-Day” sanctions being unleashed against Iran will be “the single greatest financial offensive ever marshaled against an adversary,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said hours before they are revealed Monday. The imminent announcement of the impending financial penalties follows Bessent’s comments on CNBC Friday that the US would “collapse the regime” with the “toughest sanctions in history” as President Trump warned any nation providing “any type of lifeline” to Iran would face their own economic consequences. “President Trump has dismantled Iran’s military capabilities, destroyed nearly 100 percent of its military factories and buried its nuclear program,” Bessent wrote Sunday night on X. “We are now entering the endgame. As dawn begins an economic D-Day – the single greatest financial offensive ever marshaled against an adversary,” he continued. Tehran has pledged “crushing, punishing and devastating” consequences should the US move ahead with its planned crippling sanctions — while warning other nations that support of the sanctions will be seen as an “act of war.” But Bessent seemingly batted down the threat in his Sunday social media post. “The Islamic Republic has subsisted by dressing extortion as security guarantees. It has drawn strength from a calculus that regards Iranian retaliation as certain and American enforcement as negotiable,” he wrote “Under President Trump, that era is over. And those who fear the danger of defying Tehran ought not to discount the cost of testing Washington.” Bessent penned a column in the Financial Times Sunday in which he drew parallels between the US’ planned sanctions campaign with the original June 6, 1944 D-Day, when allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. “As Roosevelt and Churchill weighed a campaign that would culminate in the Normandy landings, they asked themselves what could be done ‘to bring the greatest pressure to bear on the enemy,'” he wrote, invoking a refrain originating from the 1943 Tehran Conference convened ahead of the campaign. “History has returned that question to Tehran. And the moment has arrived to answer it with the full weight of American resolve,” he warned. “President Trump is doing what his predecessors refused by ending a threat they resigned themselves to managing,” Bessent wrote, taking a swipe at previous administrations’ lack of decisive action against the regime. “For decades, the political class accepted an endless cycle of provocation instead of advancing American interests. Not another generation should be condemned to the menace of fanatics who devote themselves to ‘death to America’ and fulfilling the regime’s nuclear ambitions,” he wrote. “And total financial isolation can obviate the need for American force while enlarging the sphere of freedom for our allies.” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to unleash economic 'D-Day sanctions' against Iran. Andrew Thomas / CNP / SplashNews.com A veiled Iranian woman walks past an anti-US billboard featuring US President Donald Trump in southern Tehran, Iran, on Monday, August 24, 2026. ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA/Shutterstock US sailors observe an MH-60R Sea Hawk landing on the flight deck aboard USS Ross (DDG 71). CENTCOM

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated once again after President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Tehran, with negotiations remaining stalled over uranium stockpiles, sanctions relief, and compensation for war-related damages following months of unrest across West Asia. In a social media post Trump said, time is running out and urged Tehran to move quickly toward an agreement. The US President’s sharp remarks came just hours after Iranian media revealed Washington’s core conditions for resuming negotiations. According to Iranian media reports, the US wants Iran to hand over 400 kilograms of enriched uranium to US and keep only one nuclear facility active. US also wants to drop demands for war compensation and accept that most frozen Iranian assets will stay blocked. Washington also reportedly wants regional conflicts to end only after negotiations are completed. Meanwhile, Iran rejected these terms and set its own conditions for restarting talks. Tehran said military operations in the region, especially in Lebanon, must stop, sanctions must be lifted and frozen Iranian assets must be released. Iran also demanded compensation for war damages and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of tension, with Iran tightening shipping controls while the US increases pressure through naval actions and sanctions. Although a ceasefire was reached earlier this year but no long-term political agreement has been achieved. Diplomatic efforts are currently frozen after both Iran and the US rejected each other’s latest proposals last week.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi today dismissed renewed US threats of economic sanctions against Tehran, describing them as a recurring tactic and saying Washington has no choice but to engage with the Iranian people respectfully. According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, Mr Araghchi said the US resort to economic pressure reflected desperation after what he described as the failure of previous measures. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced what he called an “Economic D-Day” campaign against Iran, describing it as the most severe economic operation ever imposed on a country and urging US allies to join Washington in isolating Tehran. President Trump said the measures would target Iran’s key economic lifelines, including oil-smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies. Meanwhile, Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, also warned neighbouring countries against joining the US economic campaign. He said Iran was not seeking escalation but warned that Tehran would regard neighbouring countries as enemies if they supported Washington’s pressure campaign. He warned that Iran could take measures affecting oil exports through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz if regional countries joined the US campaign against Tehran.

DOHA, Qatar (NewsNation) — Iran said Friday its response to any new U.S. threat would be “devastating” after the Trump administration pledged what it called the toughest financial penalties in history, aimed at toppling Iran’s leadership. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s comments Thursday followed President Donald Trump’s warning ofeconomic consequencesfor any country giving Iran a “lifeline.” Bessent said full details are coming Monday. “We are going to all of our allies, and this is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world,” Bessent said. He warned that countries and companies that continue doing business with Iran could face enforcement actions from the U.S. government. Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi said the country’s reaction would be broad and decisive. “With preparedness across land, sea, air, air defence (sic) and cyberspace, Iran’s armed forces will respond to the enemy’s new threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses.” Bessent saidthe new measures amount to a “one-two punch” alongside the existing naval blockade on Iran, and that full details will come at a press conference Monday. “We have the blockade (on Iran), and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history,” he told CNBC. Trump has indicated the strategy will rely on coordinated international action to restrict trade and economic engagement with Iran. The economic pressure campaign comes as a U.S. naval blockade remains in effect around Iran. U.S. military officials have also repositioned some vessels along the coast of Oman and through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to stabilize global oil markets. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Hezbollah, alleging the group has facilitated the movement of cash among organizations across the region. The department also formally reclassified Hezbollah as an Iranian proxy, a move that administration officials say is intended to strengthen efforts to pressure Tehran by targeting groups aligned with the Iranian government. The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East to relieve theUSS Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. military said Thursday. The USS Lincoln had been deployed more than 250 days. The Navy Times, Stars and Stripes and other publications havereportedmultiple service members have attempted to jump overboard, raising the alarm among military families and some members of Congress. It’s unclear when the Lincoln will return to the US, though the trip takes just over a month. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveils new U.S. economic sanctions on Iran Listen to NPR's State of the World podcast, a human perspective on global stories in just a few minutes, every weekday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has unveiled a new round of U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, in what President Trump has called an "economic D-Day." "Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone," Bessent said Monday. The administration is calling the measures "Operation Economic Outcast." "Those who tether themselves to Tehran should expect to share in the isolation of a withering regime," he added. In anticipation, the Iranian currency, the rial, plunged to a record low. What are these new sanctions and how much more pressure can they pile on? The U.S. already has extensive sanctions on Iran, some stretching back almost 50 years. And as recently as June, the U.S. had imposed further penalties for entities that helped Iran evade existing financial restrictions. There has also been a months-long U.S. naval blockade of Iran, which has cut off most goods to Iran from the outside world. This latest suggestion from President Trump and Bessent appears to be focused on putting more pressure on the countries and governments — not just the businesses — that host the entities providing cashflow for Iran. In an editorial for the Financial Times published overnight, Bessent wrote, "our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains the tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone." He appeared to reference countries that still trade with Iran, saying they should "consider the consequences of doing so." That includes China, Iran's biggest oil customer, which Bessent criticized last week for historically buying about 90% of Iran's oil. A statement from the Treasury Department said among the targets of the new sanctions is "a network of brokers, companies, and shadow fleet vessels operating across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Switzerland, Europe, and other regions to transport Iranian oil and channel revenue to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC‑QF) and other regime elements." But some analysts question the actual utility of fresh economic sanctions. Alan Eyre, a former American diplomat who was part of the U.S. negotiating team over Iran's nuclear program until 2015, told NPR's Emily Feng that the U.S. has already targeted "the low-hanging fruit, the mid-hanging fruit, the high-hanging fruit, the tree," and that "there are no new sanctions that are effective." Iran vows a "seismic" retaliation to any sanctions Iran's new security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said in an interview on state TV over the weekend that Iran would retaliate in a "seismic manner" to Trump's latest attempt at economic warfare. Rezaei, a hard-liner who used to lead Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, is now a military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Rezaei warned Gulf states that any countries partnering in these new economic restrictions would be considered an enemy of — and a target for — Iran. Since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran nearly six months ago, Iran has attacked U.S. bases in Jordan and Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Several have led to serious injuries and fatalities. Rezaei said Iran would retaliate by further targeting oil tankers that are transiting the Persian Gulf on the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that "not even a single drop of oil will leave the region." Iran is not currently interfering in these routes, so such actions could further hamper oil supplies. Energy exports from the Gulf region have already suffered the biggest disruption in their history because of the war and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Gulf countries that invested billions on pipelines that can help avoid the Strait of Hormuz have not yet commented on the U.S. plans for fresh sanctions. New sanctions will make a dire economic situation worse for ordinary Iranians Iran has weathered some U.S. sanctions for almost half a century, since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, with ordinary Iranians bearing the brunt of the subsequent economic pain. The Iranian economy was already struggling when the U.S. and Israel launched this war against Iran in February, with double-digit inflation and currency devaluation. According to the Iranian government's Statistical Center of Iran, inflation is now at almost 90%. NPR spoke to one 30-year-old Iranian woman who said most ordinary Iranians are now buying food using a credit system because they do not have enough cash. "Since I am in debt to the grocery store, I couldn't even buy tomato paste to cook pasta," she told NPR's Hadeel Al-Shalchi. She did not want to be named for fear of retaliation from the Iranian government. She said lifesaving medicines like insulin have become too expensive for many, and that daily life is becoming increasingly difficult, with frequent power cuts and unemployment rising. Economic pain and the high cost of living were among the factors driving Iranians to protest on the streets earlier this year, in demonstrations that were met with a deadly government crackdown. The U.N. wants to help get goods through Hormuz Separately, while the Trump administration steps up sanctions, the United Nations is proposing to be a neutral arbiter to get some goods flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The war with Iran has not only disrupted the global fuel trade. It is also having a big impact on the flow of fertilizer and other commodities, and driving up prices. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is calling on everyone to respect international law and allow civilian trade. "Maritime chokepoints must never become instruments of coercion and the world's food supply must never become the collateral damage of conflicts," he told reporters in New York on Monday. The U.N. is ready to monitor civilian shipping in the strait, he said, but countries involved in the conflict need to agree.

As Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz weakens, calls from senior officials for an exit have grown, and the leadership faces mounting pressure from the war's fallout, even as US economic and financial pressure tightens. Loss of control over Hormuz. In the latest phase of the war, more ships have been passing calmly through Hormuz; about 200 ships sailed last week, according to data from the United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations Center. This flow represents a 400% increase over the past two weeks, while nautical analysts at Klever (Kpler) noted that shipping has found a safe passage with the help of the American navy, meaning Iran has partially lost control of the strait. As vessel traffic and oil shipments increase, Iranian oil exports have fallen to near zero under American sanctions and new economic penalties. Recent satellite images showed little to no activity at Iran's oil export hub on Kharg Island, leaving Iran with limited options to compensate for its already faltering economy, which suffers from inflation and historically high unemployment. There is no sign of an economic breakthrough on the horizon, as Washington continues to impose sanctions in the “maximum pressure” campaign to push the Iranian economy toward collapse, according to the New York Post. Internal leadership rifts. Concurrently, Tehran faces a split within its leadership over the path of the war. Hardliners such as High Council for National Security Secretary Ali Shamkhani and the IRGC insist that Tehran can endure any pressure while continuing to damage the United States. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (note: actual name in source is Masoud Behehezhian in transliteration; common English rendering is Ebrahim Raisi; the original text mentions Masoud Bezhkian) stated that the mounting economic pressures on Tehran are beginning to sap it, warning against a humiliating retreat. New American measures. Before Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is set to announce, on Monday, new American measures to pressure the Iranian economy, the situation in Tehran appears increasingly grim; it seems that President Donald Trump is making clear progress, and all he largely needs is to maintain his hardline stance while his opponent seeks a way out. Importantly, oil is flowing again through the Hormuz Strait, which indicates Tehran's bet on closing it has failed, according to the American newspaper. Iran’s inflation had already surged past 90%, amid mass unemployment and other crises, worsening the regime’s inability to pay the armed forces. Reuters quoted monitoring sites on exchange rates saying the Iranian rial plummeted to an unprecedented level of over 2 million rials per dollar, amid American threats of unprecedented financial embargoes and broad economic sanctions.

Tehran says US President Donald Trump’s “most crushing economic operation ever” against the Islamic Republic is doomed to fail like previous Washington's pressure campaigns against Tehran over the past 14 years. In a post on his X account, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traced a series of Washington's history of failed pressure tactics against Tehran and the descriptions it used for them. 14 years ago: “Most crippling sanctions in history.” Failed. — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) August 21, 2026 8 years ago: “Maximum pressure.” Failed. 5 months ago: “Unconditional surrender.” Failed. Today: “Most crushing economic operation ever.” Bound to fail. We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies. pic.twitter.com/CNMSopprV5 Quoting a tweet by former US president Barack Obama, Araghchi said the United States imposed the “most crippling sanctions in history” 14 years ago, but the measures failed. Eight years ago, under Trump's first term, he added, Washington launched its “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, which also failed. Five months ago, the United States demanded “unconditional surrender” from Iran, but that effort likewise failed, the top Iranian diplomat asserted, referring to Trump's demand in the wake of the joint 40-day US-Israeli aggression on Iran in late February. Araghchi said Washington is now resorting to its latest campaign described as the “most crushing economic operation ever,” which will be “bound to fail”. “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” he wrote. Failed in the military war, Trump desperately resorted to economic pressure on Iran's economy on Wednesday, threatening “tremendous economic consequences” on any country that helps or does business with Tehran. “Today, I am announcing the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country!” Trump boasted on Truth Social. “Any country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face tremendous economic consequences.” In a statement issued on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a new round of US economic sanctions against the country, stating that the measures amount to “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity.” “Economic sanctions and pressure are the other side of the same coin as military war and aggression,” the ministry said, stressing that Washington’s reliance on both policies has placed global peace and security at risk. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also warned the United States on Thursday that intensifying “failed” policies against Iran will only lead to further setbacks, as Washington resorts to economic pressure after conceding defeat in its military aggression against the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed the threat of tougher US sanctions against Tehran as another failed pressure tactic, saying Washington must engage with Iran respectfully and seek a solution based on “justice and honor.” Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony in Tehran on Sunday, Araghchi said US threats of economic action represented a familiar approach that Iran had encountered repeatedly. “What they call an economic operation is a repeated scenario and the same old bullying in US policy,” Araghchi said. He went on to say that Washington had shifted from threats of military action back to “old plans,” which he said reflected desperation in dealing with Iran. Araghchi further noted that the US should recognize that pressure would not resolve its differences with Tehran. “They have no choice but to speak to the Iranian people with respect and find a solution based on justice and honor,” he said. Asked whether Iran was concerned about the prospect of an economic blockade and further threats, Araghchi said the country had never been intimidated by such measures. “We have never been afraid,” he said, arguing that previous economic and military measures against Iran had failed and that the latest pressure campaign would meet the same fate. His comments came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington could impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran. Bessent is scheduled to outline the administration’s position at a news conference on Monday. US President Donald Trump has also warned countries against providing “any type of lifeline to Iran,” while Bessent has urged China to cooperate with Washington over Iranian oil exports. China remains a major buyer of Iranian crude and has called for diplomacy. Meanwhile, Pakistan is continuing efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States amid the ongoing conflict. Earlier in the day, Iran said Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir would visit Tehran on Monday as part of regional efforts to restore peace and security. A Pakistani government source said discussions would include recent developments, including the US threat of further sanctions. Pakistan brokered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US on June 17 that required both sides to end all hostilities and prepare for further negotiations. However, the US violated the deal by conducting deadly aerial assaults on Iran and imposing a naval blockade of the country. Pakistan had previously played a pivotal role in securing the April 8 ceasefire that brought an end to the 40-day illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

“Either with us or against us” was the slogan raised by before you, the younger Bush, and he failed and did not reap its fruits… So you keep repeating, like parrots, a failing and rotten slogan!! On the other hand, we see you proudly raising your hubris as if you brought something new, decisive and deterrent: 47 years since the Islamic revolution, and you are besieging Iran; and you thought with that plan that you had created all the conditions and advantages that would enable you to launch your latest aggression on it, you cowards. You were stunned and crushed, to the extent that every time you seek a cease-fire through all intermediaries, and in the end, after you tried to salvage the situation several times, you fled from the war and surrendered to the status quo; and here you are today trying to cover your defeats by imposing “punishments never seen before”!! The whole world, and especially the awakening of the youth of the world, knows well that sanctions and the demand to disarm others are both signs that prove the failure of those who demand them and prove that they are cowards and defeated!! On the other hand, we know well that you are cowardly, terrified chickens and a failure, you only attack weak states that have no strategic weapons and no military capabilities; and we know you do not engage in any war unless you pre-impose on the targeted states economic sanctions and a fabricated inspection under the guise of looking for weapons of mass destruction: you did this in Iraq and then in Libya… and you succeeded there, which made you repeat the cycle in the same formula with Iran, but Iran, contrary to what you planned, gave you a lesson?! If so, you should draw the lesson and you should know that you are not alone in this universe, for there are other heroes and champions who prepare for you the opposite of what you prepare for them, and they will crush you, you arrogant ones!! In Iraq yesterday, the Iraqi analyst remarked at 6:13 pm that this is the biggest mistake in modern American history, surrendering to American demands means lifting its voice and restoring its position as the number one power in the world, and this is something China and BRICS will not allow. … As for the rest, some of them are in the same position as the UAE; the rest speak the language of interests and no more, as long as there are alternatives, no one will choke its economy or sacrifice its interests for the sake of others’ eyes. And you constantly delight us with political and strategic terms (no friendship and no permanent enmity). … So those we relied on, we sinners, have entangled them and entangled ourselves before them with adventures not calculated from all aspects: political, military, social, etc., now and in the future, for events are not a bounded game with rules of play and a whistle to begin and end and a precise VAR to declare the winner and loser; and as long as our grand game does not adhere to any law or time limit, let us wait to see who collapses first, and then we will judge. This is my analysis and my position, for I learned from all that came before, building hopes and raising their ceiling, only to wake up to the ruin of the structure. … Here lies the defect: extremist Jewish groups are preparing to perform the ritual of slaughtering the “red cow” and burning it to purify the alleged Jewish plan, with the aim of using its ashes in purification to enter the al-Aqsa Mosque (the alleged Temple Mount). This is considered by observers as a step toward demolishing al-Aqsa and building the alleged temple in its place. These preparations have received covert and open support from settler organizations and the “Temple Mount” movements, and they foretell a dangerous escalation in the city of Jerusalem and the entire region due to their direct link to the fate of al-Aqsa Mosque. Everyone in the world now knows with certainty that U.S. President Donald Trump suffers from a chronic mental and psychological disorder, who has become an official mouthpiece on his social media and now threatens the world daily!!! How can he impose a siege on a state the size of half the European Union? Iran’s area is about 1.65 million square kilometers, about 39% of the total area of the European Union of 4.23 million square kilometers; the figures show Iran’s area: 1,648,195 km² (ranked 18th globally), while the EU (27 countries) covers about 4,233,255 km², and the percentage represents roughly 39% of the EU’s total area. America is no longer America; it has fallen to the list of countries that need support and aid. They think they can now impose their will on great powers like Russia, China, and North Korea after America’s back has been exposed to the world. They will not take this danger lightly if they could subjugate Iran; how about subjugating Russia and China? They conjure mockery and nonsense and still live in fantasies. Americans still live in 1980s and 1990s fantasies. Trump, Netanyahu, and many others will go away, and the glorious Islamic Republic of Iran will remain until the hour. The American siege has reached its peak; there is no new sector that can be struck inside Iran. China and Russia are breaking the siege structurally: financial systems outside the dollar, black oil trade, long-term contracts. Iran holds the power to hurt: Hormuz, the Red Sea, energy prices. The siege harms the West more than it harms Iran: inflation, energy prices, the American electorate. The fate of the siege will be like all sieges since 1979: long drain, Iranian adaptation, American decline, Iran remaining a regional player. What the American Treasury secretary says that he has added to the Trumpian chant: a drum, a bell, and a flute—indeed the proverb fits: “Hear the thunder, see no flour.” History has not seen a power weakened by the United States. Yes, it has resources that no power in history has had, but show me a war from which it emerged victorious, even slightly, without discussing who won World War II. They spoke of a powerful state seeking support from others to face a weaker one by orders of magnitude? They used to defeat us with their media and nothing else, even if the combat doctrine, strong will, and political independence are achieved, American strength faded. This will happen if you and your president lose the midterm elections in two months. Global war-like conditions are simmering; after Trump announced in his press conference that American protection against Korea is not free but requires South Korea to pay 3 billion dollars to ensure their security from the North, this has become a long-hidden secret in Korea-America strategic relations and today stands as a political scandal against South Korea more than for its benefit. The supposed military cooperation between South Korea and Washington now has no place; it is only that naval ships and bases in South Korea bear its costs, and this relationship will not last long until we wake up to a sudden change in Korea’s policy from American cooperation to serve a third party to be announced later. Your enemy is a longstanding base that serves North Korea’s policy; it is a nuclear state that spends its money on armament and does not pay a red penny to America, and yet Trump contemplates meeting Kim and selling Korea together. The Asian wars ignited are waiting for Trump’s expected visit to awaken trouble. Wars will inevitably erupt, and Korea will fight a war that will burn the green and the dry in Asia, while China stands on the verge of Taiwan about to fall, until a sovereign decision to annex it is taken with China’s control; Taiwan lacks defensive weapons because China forced Trump to cancel the deal that was expected to be decided later for 14 billion dollars. Taiwan is now at China’s mercy. In the Middle East, Trump is unable to subdue Iran or deter it militarily, so he turned to Europe for help but failed, then blamed it for ingratitude, and returned again to playing on lines of the global economy in the hope that economic sanctions will prove their historical inability to affect Iran’s economic cycle as a BRICS member with strong ties to China, Russia, Pakistan, and others. Trump ignores the basics of international politics, flounders in every avenue, and this is a sign of the beginning of the decline of the United States’ star, and the start of a war NATO cannot end. This minister’s assertion about Iran's regime falling under sanctions proves he is as ignorant as Trump. If Trump falls but the Iranian regime does not, that would mean the fall of this weapon and thus a dramatic fall of America. The American government lives in a state of delusion; we are in an era where it is impossible to impose sanctions on the entire world. America will find itself isolated, its prestige will fall, its claws will be torn away, and the days are between us. Anyone who aids American oppression is a follower, not an ally; America was built on extermination and the theft of Native American lands, its aggressive wars around the world are countless, and its killers are in the millions; it lives on plunder and theft of peoples’ resources; its creed is murder, destruction, and destabilization. Its policies are built on interests and seeking alms from others, especially in our afflicted and victimized Arab geography by the United States and its Zionist gangs and allied regimes. So who will impose sanctions on it? Trump and his supporters? The harshest in history? Who will be affected by this American atrocity? Isn’t the people, first and foremost, whom they claimed to stand with to encourage protesting against the Iranian leadership and overthrow it? Isn’t America the enemy of peoples without dispute? Isn’t it the one that threatens stability and security in this world? Then why do the fearful, the cowards, and the traitors align with it? Shouldn’t it, in truth, be isolated and not dealt with as a deadly plague? But to whom should we tell our tales, which apparently many who made America a god do not like. This is the biggest mistake in America's modern history: yielding to American demands would elevate its voice and restore its place as the world’s leading power, and this is something China and BRICS will not allow. Rather, this policy will curb America to show its real size (current): it is not the great economic power it once was, drowning in debt toward bankruptcy, nor the mighty military force; Iran and its allies, including Israel and NATO members, have humiliated it. I think America has, with this request, given a global opportunity to remove it from its illusory throne. Regards. Oh, the shame … Oh, the shame … the world’s strongest powers seek help from friends and foes to stand with them against a country from the developing world … I heard Trump say he destroyed Iran and defeated it months ago, and I heard him say he would appoint its Supreme Leader, and then I heard him say that Hormuz is a piece of his country and that he returned Iran to the Stone Age … Oh, the shame, oh Abu Ivanka … weren’t you the one who opened Greenland, Canada, Cuba, Hormuz, and made America first, and boasted, insulted, and harmed … and … and … then lost the Tenth Yaho battle against Iran, emptied weapons depots, and roamed freely, then took the spoils back … you live and forget, Abu Ivanka … the fault is not yours, but on the wretched Jeffrey Epstein who caused your humiliation … O Allah, grant no power except to a prisoner.

The United States announced a new economic offensive against Iran, which will include a package of sanctions that Washington characterized as the harshest applied to date against Tehran. The measure was communicated by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who also asked China to collaborate with the strategy. Bessent indicated that he would provide more details about the new measures during a press conference scheduled for Monday. The official argued that the goal of this strategy is to increase pressure on the Iranian government. “It’s a double blow. We have the blockade and we’re going to have the harshest sanctions in history,” Bessent said during an interview with CNBC. In the same conversation, he added: “It’s going to work in Iran and we’re going to bring this regime to collapse.” Washington wants China to join the pressure One of the main focuses of the new U.S. offensive is on China, due to the volume of Iranian oil that the Asian giant purchases. Asked about the possible imposition of sanctions against Beijing for its trade relations with Tehran, Bessent avoided providing details and noted that “many conversations are better had in private.” However, the Treasury secretary stated that China depends on the Persian Gulf for a significant part of its energy supply and suggested that Beijing would benefit from participating in the U.S. strategy. “Joining the plan” would, according to Bessent, help advance the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and contribute to a potential drop in oil prices. China, in line with the background cited by Infobae, purchases more than 80% of the oil Iran exports, though other estimates put that share above 90%. A significant portion of those transactions occurs through independent refiners known as “teapots,” which have limited exposure to the U.S. financial system. Trump also issued a warning The Bessent announcement came after Donald Trump warned of economic consequences for countries that provide support to Iran. The president described the U.S. offensive as a “crushing economic operation” in a message posted on his Truth Social network. The American administration thus maintains an economic pressure strategy while the conflict with Iran continues and the naval blockade imposed by Washington remains on Iranian ports and the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran accuses the U.S. of “economic terrorism” From Tehran there was also a response to the American announcements. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif questioned Trump’s statements, arguing that they seek to divert attention from the economic problems facing the United States. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the new U.S. offensive as “economic terrorism,” according to a statement disseminated by state media. For now, the details of the new sanctions the United States intends to apply against Iran and how China will respond to Washington’s call remain to be seen. Beijing’s stance will be particularly relevant because of the weight of its Iranian oil purchases within Tehran’s economy.

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Iran said on Friday that its response to any new U.S. threats would be "devastating" after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership. U.S. Treasury chief Scott Bessent said he would give details on Monday of the planned sanctions, which follow a warning from President Donald Trump of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran." Sign up here. The chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the Islamic Republic's reaction would be broad and decisive. "With preparedness across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace, Iran's armed forces will respond to the enemy's new threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses," Abdollahi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the country's main negotiator in mediated talks with the United States, said Washington appeared to have concluded it could not prevail in its direct military confrontation. "We must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them," he said in neighbouring Iraq, accusing the U.S. and Israel of resorting to what he said was economic and "cognitive" warfare. But, speaking to Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople late on Thursday, Qalibaf acknowledged the strain on Iran's economy. "No matter how much military power we have, we won't survive if people are hungry and we don't have financial turnover, economic growth and national production," Qalibaf said, according to official news agency IRNA. BESSENT SAYS MEASURES SHOULD NOT DRIVE UP OIL PRICE Oil prices edged lower on Friday but were on track for a second weekly gain after rising on Thursday following the new U.S. sanctions threat. "I'm not sure why oil has popped up on this," Bessent told CNBC. "If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart," he said, using a term referring to military force. Thousands of people have been killed in the war, which has drawn in Gulf nations and raised global fuel prices as Iran has attacked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which before February carried about a fifth of all traded oil. Just seven commodity ships sailed along the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, half the previous day's tally, data from shiptracker Kpler showed, compared with more than 130 a day before the war. Trump has yet to achieve the objectives he set out at the start of the war: dismantling Iran's nuclear programme, curbing its ability to attack regional rivals and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers. The U.S. and Iran have twice announced ceasefire deals, in April and June, aiming to restore the free flow of ships through Hormuz on a path towards ending the nearly six-month-old conflict, but both quickly crumbled. Bessent told CNBC he would "talk about exactly what we're going to do" on Iran at a press conference on Monday. "We are going to collapse this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision," he said, describing a naval blockade reimposed on Iran in July and the "toughest sanctions in history" as a "one-two punch". Iran has weathered near-continuous economic sanctions for nearly 50 years, since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, but its people are suffering high inflation, a weakening currency and energy shortages along with damaged infrastructure. Some Iranians interviewed by Reuters have said more economic punishment could increase hardship, weaken the clerical establishment and prompt unrest, although there has been no sign of that since a deadly crackdown on protests in January. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was defiant in a post on X that referenced previous U.S. efforts to apply economic pressure to Iran and Trump's comments at the start of the war. "14 years ago: 'Most crippling sanctions in history.' Failed. 8 years ago: 'Maximum pressure.' Failed. 5 months ago: 'Unconditional surrender.' Failed. Today: 'Most crushing economic operation ever.' Bound to fail. We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies," he posted. LATEST US BLOCKADE STARTS REDUCING OIL FLOWS TO CHINA At home, Trump is under pressure to end the war, with high fuel prices dragging down his approval ratings and potentially threatening his Republican Party's control of Congress in midterm elections in November. Bessent said China got half its energy from the Gulf so it would make sense for them to "get with the programme". China buys more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler, but further U.S. economic warfare with Beijing, which has eased earlier restrictions on exports of its vital rare-earth minerals, risks retaliation. Offers of Iranian crude to Chinese buyers have already declined since the U.S. reimposed its blockade on Iranian ports in mid-July, trade sources told Reuters. China's embassy in Washington said "sanctions and pressure do not help resolve the problem", calling for diplomatic means. Tightening sanctions entails other risks, especially to U.S. allies in the Gulf, some of whose energy facilities and the desalination plants they depend on for drinking water have come under Iranian attack. Reporting by Jana Choukeir in Dubai, Susan Heavey in Washington and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Costas Pitas, Philippa Fletcher and Alex Richardson; Editing by Gareth Jones, Timothy Heritage and Toby Chopra Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

DUBAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister dismissed the threat of new U.S. sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran. Sign up here. Iran's economy is already under huge pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has been hit repeatedly and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on February 28. But Tehran remains defiant after nearly six months of war and has brought shipping to a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, refusing to allow unauthorized oil tankers to transit a waterway that is vital for global oil shipments. The effective blockade of the strait has pushed up global oil prices. Describing what he said were "repetitive scenarios", Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a video posted on Telegram: "The fact that they (U.S. leaders) have moved on from military operations ... to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate." He said Washington must speak to Iran respectfully to find "a solution based on justice and honour." "We have never been afraid. All of their actions - whether blockades or other military moves they have made - have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of economic consequences against any country that provides "any type of lifeline to Iran" and Bessent has urged cooperation with Washington by China, which buys more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. China has urged diplomacy. PAKISTAN'S ARMY CHIEF TO VISIT TEHRAN Iran said Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, would visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the region, but gave few details. Pakistan has been mediating in the conflict and a Pakistani government source said Munir would touch on recent developments including the U.S. threat of new sanctions. Trump said on Friday that Washington was observing "what happens" in the conflict. "They would love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion," Trump said of Iran. U.S. attacks have severely diminished Iran's economy and devastated its navy and air force, but Tehran maintains enough missile and drone capability to impede oil tanker traffic and attack regional rivals. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Saturday that Tehran had received "numerous messages" from neighbouring countries about establishing new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation. Qalibaf did not say which countries he was referring to. He accused the U.S. of endangering the security of its allies in the region for the sake of Israel, adding that an independent, "homegrown" regional order would deliver peace and security. Trump has yet to achieve objectives he set at the start of the war such as dismantling Iran's nuclear programme — the state of which remains uncertain given that U.N. inspectors have been shut out since 2025 — and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers. While Iran remains defiant, President Masoud Pezeshkian has also called for a diplomatic solution. "It would be better to end the war today, when we are powerful and have dignity, and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America, contrary to all regulations, attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure and is hated in the world," the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying on Friday. Reporting by Elwely Elwelly in Dubai, Menna AlaaElDin in Cairo and Mubasher Bukhari in Islamabad, Writing by Timothy Heritage, Editing by Susan Fenton Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Dubai, August 23 (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif described the threat of new American sanctions as a sign of desperation, saying on Sunday that the proposed measures would not be able to defeat Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin threatened to impose the harshest sanctions in history on Iran. Mnuchin is due to hold a press conference at 1800 GMT tomorrow, Monday. Sign-up registration here. Iran’s economy is already under heavy pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has suffered repeated strikes, and thousands have been killed in air raids on the Islamic Republic since the United States and Israel launched attacks on February 28. But Tehran remains defiant almost six months after the war began, which led to a near-total halt in shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, by refusing to allow unauthorized tankers to pass through the vital waterway for global oil shipments. The actual closure of the strait contributed to higher global oil prices. Zarif described what he called repetitive “scenarios,” saying in a video posted on the Telegram app, “Their transition from military actions to rehashing the same old plans shows they are in a state of despair.” He added that Washington should speak to Iran with respect to reach a “solution based on justice and honor.” He said, “We have never been afraid. All their measures have failed, whether it was a blockade or other military moves they carried out, and this new one will also fail.” US President Donald Trump warned of economic consequences for any country providing “any kind of vital support to Iran,” while Mnuchin called for China to cooperate with Washington, as Beijing imports more than 80 percent of Iranian crude shipped by sea, according to 2025 data from Kleiner Analytica. China, for its part, urged diplomacy. * A visit to Tehran Iran said Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir will visit Tehran tomorrow, Monday, as part of efforts to restore peace and security to the region, but gave no details. Pakistan mediates efforts to end the war, and a government source said Munir would address the latest developments, including the threat by the United States to impose new sanctions. Trump said on Friday that Washington is watching “what will happen” in the conflict. He added about Iran, “They want to reach an agreement… but in my view, they are not ready to reach the right agreement.” US strikes have significantly degraded Iran’s economy and damaged its navy and air forces, but Tehran still possesses enough missiles and drones to disrupt oil tanker passage and strike regional foes. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said yesterday that Tehran had received “many messages” from neighboring states about establishing new security arrangements in the region and ways to cooperate economically. But Ghalibaf did not disclose the countries he referred to. He accused the United States of risking the security of its regional allies in favor of Israel, adding that an regional order by the states of the region would achieve peace and security. Trump has not yet achieved the goals he set at the start of the war, such as dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, whose status remains opaque due to UN inspectors’ inability to access sites since last year, and creating conditions for Iranians to topple their rulers from the clergy. Despite Iran’s steadfast stance, President Massoud Beshzian also called for a diplomatic solution. Iranian Students’ News Agency quoted him on Friday as saying, “It would be better to end the war today, at a time when we are strong and dignified, and the whole world recognizes our victory and confirms that America attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, in violation of all norms, and is hated in the world.” Shirin Abdulaziz and Salma Najeem contributed to the Arabic bulletin – edited by Ali Khafaji Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

By FARNOUSH AMIRI NEW YORK (AP) — Nearing the six-month mark of the Iran war and facing diminishing stockpiles of key weapons, the Trump administration is touting a crushing financial campaign against Tehran, promising an “economic D-Day” against a country that has withstood nearly five decades of punishing American sanctions. With sparse details, President Donald Trump announced this week that the U.S. would be imposing an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare and isolation on Iran, aiming to force its leadership to cave to demands to end its nuclear program and fully reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers. It reflects the dire reality Trump faces with an increasingly unpopular war he can’t seem to end just months before pivotal midterm elections that will decide whether his Republican Party keeps control of Congress. Whether out of desperation or strategy, the president is refocusing America’s might on bringing Iran to its knees through an accelerated sanctions campaign against one of the most economically penalized countries in the world. In response to the threat, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted Friday on X the history of U.S. sanctions against Iran, saying, “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies.” The immediate reaction from Iran hawks has been praise and a call for patience as it plays out, while other analysts warn that Trump is refusing to learn the lessons of his predecessors. In an interview Thursday on CNBC, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a small glimpse of what may be ahead, threatening secondary sanctions on nations and companies that conduct business with Iran. He did not reveal who would be targeted as part of this next phase of the administration’s Operation Economic Fury, which earlier had focused on entities and people who buy oil from or bank with Iran. China and India, however, are major buyers of Iranian oil. “If you insist on doing business with them, then the U.S. Treasury and U.S. government will put its full might and force against you,” Bessent said. “It’s time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision.” Some experts see ‘uncharted waters’ that could force Iran’s hand Despite decades of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the Trump administration is arguing that it’s only a matter of time and that striking the right economic target would get Tehran to its breaking point. Richard Goldberg, who coordinated efforts to put diplomatic pressure on Iran in Trump’s first term, said the consequences of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites last year, the war this year and the American naval blockade on Iranian ports have created the perfect storm for capitulation — one that didn’t previously exist. “I think we’re watching a strategy, whether it takes a short time or a long time, that is very much about fundamentally changing the future of the world by seeing the end of this regime,” said Goldberg, who is now at the hawkish Washington think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, or FDD. “I caution everyone — including myself, who has worked on sanctions, who’s worked on financial warfare — to have the humility to admit that we are in uncharted waters,” he said. He said the decision this week by the United Arab Emirates — once one of Tehran’s most important trading partners — to suspend trade with Iran over an alleged missile attack will only further isolate the government. Beyond trade in domestically produced goods, the Emiratis had helped the country absorb some of the shocks caused by sanctions through its re-export hub. Targeting allies and partners comes at a price With nearly all of Iran’s energy, financial and transportation sectors already covered by U.S. sanctions, Trump’s aim appears to be to apply secondary sanctions on countries, including allies and partners, that have not cut all ties with Iran to starve the country of any remaining income it may still be receiving. In many ways, it is a redux of Trump’s first-term maximum-pressure campaign, which he has ramped up during his second term to include military action. But as Trump and his allies discovered during his first administration, it can be difficult to enforce secondary sanctions without harming U.S. interests and provoking reciprocal measures. There were numerous instances of the administration granting sanctions waivers to countries, particularly those that rely on Iranian oil for their energy needs. “Trump’s strategy now rests on targeting Tehran directly by impeding its touch points and access to the formal financial system and international economy,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the FDD’s Iran program. “This will require making the Iran issue more important in U.S. bilateral relations with countries in Europe and Asia.” Iran doesn’t see an ‘open door’ at the end of the sanctions campaign Iranian officials and analysts have accused the Republican president of flip-flopping with his latest pivot to economic pressure against Tehran. Trump has long derided past leaders who used sanctions to limit Iran’s ability to pay for its military and nuclear development. In a post last week on X, Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, wrote that Washington’s pattern of retreating to sanctions when it doesn’t want to pursue diplomacy has proven to be futile. “Iran has demonstrated over decades that it will not be strangled by these exhausted refrains,” he said. “The real risk is that American politicians, clinging to this bad habit, will instead strangle their own remaining chances of a less humiliating exit from a crisis of their own making.” Ali Vaez, Iran director at the International Crisis Group, said the Trump administration’s decision to take its own maximum-pressure policy to new heights with military action seems to ignore years of U.S. foreign-policy lessons that show Iran does not respond well to pressure. If anything, he says, the latest economic campaign has only “hardened Iran’s position.” “I think (Trump’s) blind spot is the fact that the only thing that the Iranian regime views as more dangerous than suffering from U.S. sanctions is surrendering to U.S. terms,” Vaez said. Plus, the past year of start-stop diplomacy has only worsened the already fragile dynamic between the longtime adversaries, Vaez says, adding that Iranian officials’ lack of trust in Trump and his mediators has created an untenable foundation. “They believe that even if they capitulate to U.S. terms under economic duress, Trump would move the goalposts and ask for more,” he said. “And this is really the fundamental problem: Pressure without an open door is an exercise in futility.” Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report.

Iran yesterday dismissed Washington’s declaration of a massive economic pressure campaign, saying it disproved US claims to have dismantled Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities. “Your narrative doesn’t add up: you say that Iran’s military power has been ‘dismantled,’ 100% of its military factories ‘destroyed’ and its nuclear program ‘buried,’” Iranian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on X. Yet, “there is a need for ‘the largest financial invasion in history’ and the mobilization of ‘all institutions and powers’ of the United States! Is this a victory or an admission of America’s defeat?” he added. Photo: AFP Earlier, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent wrote in the Financial Times that Washington was launching the “single greatest financial offensive marshalled against an adversary”— calling it an “economic D-Day.” Bessent posted on X that the measure came after the US “dismantled Iran’s military capabilities, destroyed nearly 100 percent of its military factories, and buried its nuclear program.” He was scheduled to explain the new US sanctions on Iran yesterday. Meanwhile, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned countries against joining the US economic campaign, with ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei saying taking part would “definitely have its own consequences.” The US and Israel triggered the Middle East war with a massive wave of strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering Iranian retaliation across the region. An April 8 ceasefire ended nearly 40 days of intense bombardment, but control over the Strait of Hormuz soon emerged as a key flashpoint in the conflict. Iran has controlled the vital energy conduit since the war began. Reopening the strait, vital for global oil and gas supplies, has become a US priority, but Tehran insists the waterway will remain closed until Washington lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, removes oil sanctions and unfreezes Iranian assets abroad. Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would ramp up economic pressure on Iran “on an unprecedented scale.” Washington has urged other governments, including Beijing, to join efforts to further isolate Iran’s economy. In an article published yesterday in Iran’s Ettela’at newspaper, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi said relations with China “have taken on deeper, more structural, and more comprehensive dimensions.” Iran has faced US and international sanctions since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Trump has repeatedly pursued a “maximum pressure” policy of economic sanctions against Iran, reinstating the approach after returning to office in January last year following a similar campaign during his first term. Iran has repeatedly dismissed the sanctions policy as a failure, insisting that economic pressure and threats will not force it to change course. HELD ACCOUNTABLE: A total of 56 people were handed prison sentences, with terms for senior executives ranging from six to 18 years in jail, Xinhua reported China yesterday sentenced the founder of embattled property giant Evergrande to life in prison and fined the group more than US$2 billion for offenses including fraud, five years after a high-profile default. Evergrande Group was once the face of Chinese real estate, surfing a decades-long property boom as it peddled home-ownership dreams. However, its access to credit dramatically narrowed when the government introduced curbs on excessive borrowing and speculation. The company defaulted in 2021 after struggling to repay creditors. A court in southern China fined the firm and its real-estate arm a total of 15.82 billion yuan (US$2.35 billion). It issued a life sentence MAN VS MACHINE: The games could help improve hardware, but longer-term value depends on real-world problem-solving, an executive at a tech firm said China’s humanoid robots have shown they can run quicker than the fastest humans. Now comes the real test: Can they also handle packaging and warehouse operations while reliably performing precision tasks like connecting cables designed to evaluate their ability to work like humans in less flashy jobs? The five-day World Humanoid Robot Games, which began in Beijing on Saturday, combines events modeled on human sports with those designed to test the robots in simulated factories, restaurants, offices and in emergency situations. Heavily promoted in Chinese state media, the games, held at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval and which run through Wednesday, feature 51 A former adviser at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) on Tuesday pleaded guilty to conspiring to evade public records laws and conceal government documents related to grant research funding and the COVID-19 pandemic. David Morens, who had worked as a senior official at the institute during the COVID-19 pandemic, entered his plea to a conspiracy charge during a hearing in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland. The 78-year-old had been indicted in April on charges related to what prosecutors said was a scheme to thwart public records requests received by the agency beginning in April 2020 related to The wildfires burning across Europe this summer have exposed a potentially deadly threat lurking beneath the blackened landscape: rusty bombs and mines from World War I and II that threaten crews responding to the flames. Some of the weapons have exploded in the intense heat. Blasts have been reported in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, where a bomb-disposal team was dispatched to check a forest threatened by flames near a site of fierce fighting in the Limburg Province in 1944. Fueled by climate change, the fires and explosions show that the continent’s “climatic luck” is running out, said Sarah Njeri, a

By Rajwa Quasim The Trump administration is planning to impose further economic sanctions on Iran, which President Donald Trump called “economic D-Day.” Trump said Monday that Iran was “collapsing” as the U.S. prepared to announce tougher sanctions against Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the measures as the “greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary.” The new strategy aims to increase economic pressure on Iran’s leaders and push them toward ending the nearly six-month war between the two countries. Bessent was expected to unveil the new measures Monday during a news conference. The move signals a shift from political pressure to a much broader economic campaign against Tehran. Bessent also urged Iran’s allies to sever ties with the country, saying doing so would help them gain U.S. support, better access to global capital and strengthen their positions in the global economy and investor confidence. Meanwhile, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezai, said that not only the U.S., but any country that supports the sanctions would be considered an enemy by Iran. He said on state television, “We declare to all countries … do not join the economic war waged by the United States. Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy. If the countries concerned refuse to “distance themselves” from the United States, Iran would “harm” their interests.” READ: Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is only the first step; return to ‘pre-war levels’ could take ‘months’ (June 15, 2026) Rezai further said that Iran had not yet attacked any American economic interests and still had more cards to play in the war. Iran has maintained that it has withstood various economic sanctions for years and will continue to do so. Iran’s Central Bank Gov. Abdolnaser Hemmati compared the “economic D-Day” with previous U.S. sanctions. He said, “I was also the head of the Central Bank from 2018 to 2020. Our circumstances were almost exactly like this. They imposed maximum pressure, imposed secondary sanctions, sanctioned all our banks, sanctioned all our agriculture, sanctioned all our oil purchases — they sanctioned everything. The country stood and got through that period. It is the same now. We stood through those conditions, and, in practice, they were unable to do anything.” A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two countries in June, setting a 60-day deadline for ending the war and reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. The 60-day deadline ended last week, with little or no progress and tensions rising on both sides. There are still no signs of an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. READ: Iran peace deal nears amid fresh Hormuz tensions (June 14, 2026) Iran and Oman are still holding talks over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Representatives from the two countries were scheduled to meet Tuesday for further discussions. Iran wants to maintain control of the strategic waterway, while the U.S. opposes the move. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended the MoU and said he believed it was the best way to end the ongoing war between the two countries. He said, “There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation. The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.” Greece moved one of its Patriot missile defense systems to the island of Crete on Monday amid threats from Tehran to attack U.S. bases across Europe. According to local media reports from Tehran, the move was intended to pressure the Trump administration over its military pressure related to the Strait of Hormuz. Greece’s Defense Ministry did not comment on the reported deployment. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said, “IRAN IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!!” without offering further context. Amid the ongoing war, Iran’s currency hit a record low against the dollar. In the informal market, $1 was worth about 2.02 million Iranian rials, while the Central Bank’s official rate was lower, at about 1.5 million Iranian rials per dollar.

DUBAI/WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump said in radio remarks on Thursday evening that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly weakened, adding that Tehran still possessed drones but in very limited numbers compared with its arsenal five months ago. Trump said Iran’s ability to manufacture missiles had also been severely curtailed, while asserting that US military operations had already destroyed Iran and its leadership. He said Iran would now struggle to rebuild its military capabilities or achieve its objectives, arguing that he had been left with no choice but to strike Iran and that the country was now in a severely weakened position. Trump also accused former US presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden of having allowed Iran to enrich uranium. The US president is seeking to seize Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and secure a new agreement imposing tighter restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear programme. The proposed deal would replace the 2015 nuclear agreement from which Trump withdrew the United States unilaterally in 2018. Trump’s remarks came as Washington signalled that it was preparing to intensify economic pressure on Tehran. ‘Toughest sanctions in history’ US Treasury chief Scott Bessent said the United States will impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, a move he suggested would lessen the need for new major military operations. Bessent’s comments on Thursday followed Trump’s threat a day earlier of “Economic Warfare” and warning of economic consequences against any country that provided “any type of lifeline to Iran.” Bessent promised details next week. Oil prices rose to more than a three-week high on Thursday following those US threats of financial penalties aimed at forcing an end to a nearly six-month-old war that has stranded millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil. “I’m not sure why oil has popped up on this,” Bessent told CNBC. “If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,” he said, using a term referring to military force. Thousands have been killed in the conflict, which drew in Gulf nations and shocked markets as Iran flexed its ability to curb shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carried about a fifth of all traded oil before February. The US and Iran have twice announced ceasefire deals, in April and June, aiming to restore the free flow of shipping through Hormuz on a path towards ending the conflict, but both quickly crumbled. Sanctions details to come Iran has weathered near-continuous, punishing economic sanctions for nearly 50 years, since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Before Bessent spoke, Iran’s foreign ministry said it condemned US economic and trade sanctions, calling them “economic terrorism” that would not “create even the slightest hesitation in Iranians’ determination to safeguard Iran’s independence, dignity and national sovereignty.” Bessent told CNBC he would share more details on the latest package and “talk about exactly what we’re going to do” on Iran at a press conference on Monday. “It is a one-two punch. We have the blockade (on Iran), and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history,” he added, referring to a US naval blockade imposed on Iran in April and paused for a month in mid-June. “It is going to work in Iran and we are going to collapse this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,” he said. China buys more than 80 percent of Iran’s shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler, but engaging in further economic warfare with China, a major exporter to the US including vital rare-earth minerals, risks retaliation against Washington. When asked if the United States could target China for doing business with Iran, Bessent said many conversations were best to have in private. “Keep in mind that the Chinese get 50 percent (of their) energy… from the Gulf. So it would do them a big service to get with the programme,” he said. China’s embassy in Washington said “sanctions and pressure do not help resolve the problem.” “China calls on the relevant parties to take responsible actions and resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means,” according to an embassy spokesperson. ‘Tremendous economic consequences’ In a social media message on Wednesday, Trump promised “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.” He did not say what specific steps the US would take or name any country, though the warning would appear to extend to US allies that have helped mediate peace talks. “ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences,” Trump wrote. Trump, however, is under pressure at home to end the unpopular war, with high fuel prices dragging down his approval ratings and potentially threatening his party’s control of Congress in midterm elections in November. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump’s comments an attempt to divert American public opinion from domestic financial problems, including record debt and rising interest rates. He said Washington’s insistence on policies he described as failed would bring further failures and alienate Iranians. Trump’s social media threats and announcements are not always implemented as written.

CAIRO/WASHINGTON The US threatened Iran with what it called “the greatest financial offensive ever marshalled” as it prepared to roll out economic sanctions on Monday that target Iran’s trade partners. Iran in turn vowed to shut down all oil exports from the Gulf “if the economic war continues.” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) on Monday amid promises to reveal even more severe measures on a country that has endured near-continuous economic sanctions since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. “At dawn begins an economic D-Day, the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary,” Bessent wrote in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times on Sunday. The warring nations have not conducted military strikes against each other for weeks, but they also have not engaged in meaningful talks to end the six-month-old conflict. Thousands of people have died, most of them in Iran and Lebanon, since the US and Israel began strikes on February 28, degrading much of Iran’s conventional military capacity and inflicting economic pain while killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But Iran has preserved enough missile and drone capability to attack its Gulf neighbours and threaten oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing shipping in the key waterway to a near standstill and pressuring world fuel prices. The exact state of Iran’s nuclear programme, which the Americans and Israelis aim to wipe out, remains unknown. Without detailing specific measures, Bessent signalled the US would target “fearful nations” that practice “appeasement” by engaging with Iran’s economy and financial system. “They would do well to consider the consequences of sustaining it,” he wrote in the Financial Times. Iran has been bracing for the sanctions for days, issuing a series of strongly worded statements hinting at a major military response. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, on Sunday suggested economic retaliation. “If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf,” Rezaei wrote in a social media post. “Iran will regard any country’s participation in or support for America’s economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war.” Bessent previously urged China to cooperate with the US, noting China historically has received half of its oil imports from the Gulf region. A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington responded with a statement that “sanctions and pressure do not help resolve the problem,” while calling for diplomacy. Iran’s economy was already under pressure from international sanctions before the US and Israeli attacks destroyed parts of its infrastructure. Though Tehran remains outwardly defiant, Iranian officials have warned that further economic punishment could increase hardships, reignite unrest and further erode the Islamic Republic’s legitimacy. Iran entered the war with high inflation, a weakening currency, energy shortages, sanctions and deep structural weaknesses, and must now contend with damaged infrastructure, disrupted trade, lost production and the cost of rebuilding. In the absence of official face-to-face talks between the US and Iran, which were last conducted in June in Switzerland, other nations including Qatar, Pakistan and Turkey have attempted to promote diplomacy. Iran said Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, will visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the region, but gave few details. Pakistan has been mediating in the conflict and a Pakistani government source said Munir would touch on recent developments including the US threat of new sanctions. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon during the war have killed thousands and displaced millions. The US reported 18 military personnel killed and more than 750 wounded.

Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed the threat of a fresh round of US economic sanctions as a “desperate” ploy, even as its president acknowledged that the Iranian people are facing “many problems” amid Washington’s efforts to isolate and debilitate the country’s economy. Last week, Donald Trump announced a new campaign to increase the pressure on the Iranian economy, calling it “the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country”. The US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, is expected to announce further punitive economic measures on Iran – which he has described as “the toughest sanctions in history” – on Monday. Despite the threats, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, insisted the country remained unbowed. “The fact that [US leaders] have moved on from military operations … to bringing up the same old plans shows that they are desperate,” he said in a video posted on Telegram on Sunday. “We have never been afraid. All of their actions – whether blockades or other military moves they have made – have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well.” Araghchi urged Washington to speak to Iran respectfully to find “a solution based on justice and honour.“ His defiant message came hours after Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said Trump had thrust his country into “a full-scale economic, military and security war”. “I understand we have many problems in society right now. We are trying to prevent these as much as we can,” he said in a speech broadcast on state television. “We are striving with all our hearts to overcome inflation, livelihood problems, unemployment, and to secure the future of the people, so that they can live with dignity and pride.” The Iranian government has faced several waves of mass protest in recent years, often triggered by economic hardships, including inflation and exchange-rate swings leading to declining purchasing power. At the end of December last year, a protest movement initially sparked by the rising cost of living turned into mass demonstrations denouncing those in power. Authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths during the unrest, accusing the US and Israel of orchestrating the violence. Foreign-based NGOs, however, said Iranian officials had launched an indiscriminate crackdown that left thousands dead. The new leader of Iran’s top security body has warned its neighbours against joining new US efforts to squeeze Tehran’s economy, and threatened US commercial interests in the region, as Trump doubled down on his fanciful view that the strait of Hormuz was a new US territory. Mohsen Rezaei, the hardline leader of Iran’s supreme national security council, told state television that Iran would target oil-shipping routes out of the Gulf – alternatives to the strait of Hormuz – if its neighbours joined what he called the “economic war” waged by the US. Those neighbours would be “considered an enemy” and “we will target their interests”, he said. Rezaei also claimed Iran had more cards to play in the war, saying it had “not yet attacked any American economic interests”. “So far, we have only targeted military bases, but if they want to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States has oil and economic companies around Iran and elsewhere, and we will strike them,” he said in the interview, which was broadcast on Saturday. Trump’s efforts to finish the war he started along with Israel on 28 February have foundered after a ceasefire agreement signed in June collapsed, leaving Iran in control of the strait of Hormuz, a waterway that was the conduit for one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies before the conflict. Washington has called on other governments to join its efforts to isolate the Iranian economy, notably China, among Iran’s top strategic partners. However, Beijing has criticised the initiative, arguing that US sanctions will not resolve the conflict in the Middle East. One of Iran’s main trading partners, the United Arab Emirates, announced on Tuesday last week it was suspending all trade and financial transactions with Tehran until further notice. The US treasury has for months been carrying out Operation Economic Fury, aiming to cut off Iran’s funding with targeted sanctions, while a naval blockade in the strait of Hormuz has sought to block Iranian oil exports that are vital in keeping the country’s economy afloat. The US president has in recent days repeatedly raised the concept of declaring the strait a US territory, sharing a map identifying it as such in a social media post on Saturday. Rezaei said in his interview that discussions continued with Iran’s cross-strait neighbour Oman over management of the waterway, and said fees would be imposed. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, are expected to discuss plans to develop alternative routes to the strait of Hormuz during the Saudi leader’s two-day visit to Paris that starts on Sunday. Proposals include increasing trade through Omani ports outside the Gulf, expanding or doubling pipelines in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, and developing new rail links, officials told the Associated Press. France and Saudi Arabia have formed a taskforce on energy and logistics connections between the Middle East and Europe that is scheduled to meet at the ministerial level on Monday. The officials said the work would focus on identifying the most strategic projects, securing financing and establishing roles for French companies. With Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Reuters

bySarah Davis08/22/26 10:25 AM ET Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday the war between the U.S. and Iran should end because the world has accepted Tehran’s victory in this conflict. His comments, which were reported by state media, come ahead of new economic sanctions from the U.S. expected next week. “The entire world approved our victory and the U.S. is hated,” he said,accordingto the state-run IRNA News Agency. President Trumpannounced Wednesdaythat his administration would unleash the “most crushing economic operation ever” against Iran amidongoing negotiationsto reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are,” the president wrote in aTruth Socialpost. “This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat,” Trump continued. The trading passage, which carries around a fifth of the world’s oil consumption on a daily basis during peacetime, has been effectively closed due to Iranian counterstrikes and a U.S. naval blockade. Iran and Oman have joint jurisdiction over this critical waterway, but Trump has threatened to make the strait a U.S. territory amid these ongoing talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to unveil details of the new economic sanctions on Monday. “It is a one-two punch. We have ​the blockade, and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history,” the secretarytold ​CNBCon Thursday. “It is going to work in Iran and we are going to collapse this ⁠regime.” Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi decried these anticipated economic penalties on Thursday, suggesting they were a means for the Trump administration to distract from domestic concerns about the cost of living. “The so-called “Economic D-Day” is a diversion from America’s own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs,” the Iranian official wrote onsocial media. “Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat—and enmity of Iranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide.”

by The Hill staff08/24/26 12:52 PM ET Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday afternoon will unveil new sanctions on Iran, escalating the Trump administration’spressure on the Islamic Republicto negotiate a deal to end the conflict and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump warned last week that Iran would face an “economic D-day” if it does not agree to a deal. Bessent said the goal is to sever Tehran’sremaining economic lifelinesand hitpotential alliesof the regime as the war nears the six-month mark. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi hasdismissed the effort, arguing it would bring “further defeat” for the U.S. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EDT. Watch the live video above.

Iran has made billions of dollars despite sanctions and amid the United States blockade, Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaee claimed in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) station on Saturday. He also stated that Iran had sold millions of barrels of oil, bypassing the US naval blockade. "In the past month or two, we sold seventy million barrels of oil," he said. "Now every day we sell oil to American ships on that side, as much as we produce." He also warned that other countries should not join the US "economic war" against Iran, threatening to strike any that participated. "Of course, we negotiate with him first," he said. "We hold a meeting, we say, 'go and separate your ranks from America,' and if they don't act, we will strike. We will strike the interests of the country." In addition, Rezaee threatened the US, claiming that Iran had not attacked American bases unprovoked before. Now that the US had declared economic warfare, he explained, Iran would strike "a few oil and economic companies around Iran and elsewhere." Iran would also attack bases if the US added forces to it, he said. "They will not make any movements in the southern direction," he added. "We will find out if they have met with the counter-revolutionary groups. We will attack them there." US, Israel aiming to promote war to sell more weapons, Iran claims During the interview, Rezaee accused the US and Israel of intentionally fostering the regional conflicts in order to sell weaponry, saying that Iran had no interest in the war. "If we were warmongers, would we have gone to three negotiations with the Americans?" he defended. "How many ceasefires would we have accepted? Of course, we are not warmongers, but we will not surrender under any circumstances. We will defend our nation wholeheartedly." The Strait of Hormuz is currently closed, he also claimed, and will reopen only if the US "fulfills its obligations." Discussing the Mecca defense pact between Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, Rezaee claimed that the Gulf countries had been spurred by the US abandoning them. "America told them, 'Goodbye, we are leaving.' They want to fill America's void." Iran would also be evolving its defenses in the wake of the war with Israel and the US, he said, saying that "Iran today will no longer be the Iran it was before the war. "Of course, the pretentious and arrogant America will not be the America it was before the war," he added. US President Donald Trump's "stupidity," he said, came in creating a huge debt for Americans and their allies. "He wanted to make America great again with his election slogan, but what did he make great?" he said. "He made the debts greater. The debt on the 30-year US bond rate has become greater." In order to finance itself now, Razaee claimed, the US "must borrow at a rate of three and seven tenths of 2020, meaning that for every hundred billion dollars in debt, it must spend three and seven tenths of a billion dollars more annually than in the past. If you multiply this by the thirty-year US bonds in those 40 trillion bonds, perhaps several times our annual budget is imposed on the American people and American companies." US endangered world by attacking Iran over nuclear weapon, Razaee accuses The Supreme National Security Council head also addressed the US claims that it had begun the war with Iran in order to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons, accusing America that by doing so it had actually put the world in greater danger. "The United States said it came to prevent the atomic bomb," he explained. "Now the whole world is saying, 'Wow, neither the NPT [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons] nor membership in the Atomic Energy Organization is effective. And it turned out that this atomic issue is very important. The United States has started a war. Why shouldn't we go after the atomic bomb?'" Iran, Razaee claimed, had accepted the presence of IAEA inspectors, numerous checks and forms of supervision, and other concessions for its nuclear energy projects. "Well, now the world says that if Iran, which has been so obedient, is attacked, and its nuclear facilities are attacked, why don't we go and make a bomb so that no one can attack us?"

Supported by U.S. to Unveil Broader Campaign Aiming to Cripple Iran’s Economy Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a news conference outlining the new package of measures. The Trump administration is set to announce on Monday what it is describing as its most comprehensive assault to date on Iran’s economy, unveiling a package of measures that are intended to isolate Iran from the rest of the world. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to announce the plan at a news conference on Monday afternoon. The escalation of sanctions pressure comes as negotiations to end the military conflict between the United States and Iran continue to sputter. While the Trump administration has billed the effort as the coming of an economic apocalypse for Iran, it is not clear in practical terms what else the United States can actually do to further disrupt Iran’s economy. Mr. Trump has already carried out a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran during his first term and earlier this year enacted a package of measures it called Operation Economic Fury. And as it ratchets economic pressure higher, the United States must also weigh the potential for blowback in the form of higher energy prices or the risk of inflaming tensions with China, the world’s biggest buyer of Iranian oil. Mr. Bessent, along with President Trump, has signaled that the new initiative will include greater coordination between the United States and its allies to cripple Iran’s economy. It could include so-called secondary sanctions on those who continue to do business with Iran. “At dawn begins an economic D-Day — the single greatest financial offensive ever marshaled against an adversary,” Mr. Bessent wrote in a social media post on Sunday evening. “The President has created the conditions to leverage every agency, every authority and action many assumed we would never summon.” Related Content Advertisement

The United States Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, stated this Sunday that the war against Iran is in its “final phase” and announced for Monday the start of an “economic war” which, he assured, will be the “largest financial offensive ever orchestrated against an adversary.” “We are entering the final phase. At dawn an economic D-Day begins: the largest financial offensive ever orchestrated against an adversary,” Bessent noted in a post on social media. The Treasury Secretary said that the U.S. president, Donald Trump, “has dismantled Iran’s military capabilities, destroyed almost 100% of its military factories, and buried its nuclear program.” The elimination of the possibility that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon was precisely one of the arguments used by Trump to justify the economic campaign against Tehran. Bessent accused Iran of “subsisting by disguising extortion as security guarantees” and of basing its strength on the possibility that Iranian retaliation would be safe while U.S. intervention would be negotiable. “Under Trump’s presidency, that era has ended,” he stated. In this sense, he defended that Trump has created the conditions for the United States to use “all agencies, all authorities, and all actions” that until now many believed Washington would never employ. The objective, according to Bessent, is to “cut off all the economic support that sustains the tyrannical regime” in Iran until Tehran is left “alone.” He also warned countries that fear the consequences of opposing Iran that “they should not underestimate the cost of testing Washington.” His statements follow the line of those made last Friday in an interview with CNBC, in which he issued a warning to U.S. partners: “Either you’re with us, or you’re against us.” Trump had also warned on Saturday of imposing “tremendous economic consequences” on any state that “allows its financial institutions, companies, airports, or government entities to provide any kind of aid to Iran.”

INTELBRIEF August 24, 2026 Iran and the Region Respond to U.S. “Economic D-Day” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to unveil the details of new U.S. sanctions that President Trump has characterized as an “Economic D-Day” against Iran, referring to the 1944 Allied landing in Normandy. Trump has characterized the U.S. sanctions package as a “crushing” operation to “cripple” Iran economically. According to Trump and other U.S. officials, the sanctions package will shut foreign companies out of the U.S. market if they continue to transact any business with Iran. The new measures will add pressure to Iran’s economy that is already under more strain than at any time, suffering from the combined effects of wartime destruction, the ongoing U.S naval blockade of Iranian ports, and the cumulative effects of decades of existing U.S. sanctions. But current U.S. sanctions have already shut Iranian banks out of the global financial system and limited customers for Iran’s oil and other products, making it unclear to what extent the new U.S. measures will add meaningful pressure on the regime. Aside from the new U.S. measures, energy industry experts — and some Iranian officials — accept that the U.S. Navy is demonstrating increasing success escorting commercial tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The naval operation is eroding Tehran’s leverage over the waterway, but energy exports through the Strait are still well below pre-war levels and remain vulnerable to Iranian escalation. The new U.S. measures will confirm a shift toward reliance on economic pressure rather than kinetic military action to coerce Iran into returning to the June Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which sought but failed to end the war. The MOU collapsed in early July over Iranian perceptions that the U.S. had not implemented all of its MOU commitments, prompting regime hardliners to insist Iran militarily maintain its closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Explaining the policy shift, Secretary Bessent told journalists Thursday: “If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart…But I would emphasize, that is for now.” Even before the details of the U.S. plan were released, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the U.S. plan as “economic terrorism.” U.S. officials assess the measures to be announced today, when added to the ongoing naval blockade of Iran’s ports, will coerce the regime to immediately agree to open the Strait of Hormuz and return to negotiations. However, many experts doubt that Iran’s regime, which has withstood two decades of sanctions-centric “maximum pressure” policies, will buckle under new economic measures. Iran’s most important financial lifeline is China, which buys 90 percent of Iran’s oil, although the naval blockade has brought those exports to a standstill. Analysts agree the Trump team is likely to calibrate its use of the new measures against China, particularly in advance of the visit of China’s paramount leader, Xi Jinping, to Washington on September 24. To date, the U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned independent Chinese refiners but has avoided the steps that would most antagonize Beijing, particularly penalizing major Chinese banks that finance that trade, including the People’s Bank of China (PBoC). China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian expressed Beijing’s opposition to the planned U.S. announcement, stating: “sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue,” and urging all parties to “take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means.” Although Beijing openly opposes the new U.S. measures, Washington has obtained some cooperation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The emirate of Dubai, the commercial hub of the UAE, which has a large Iranian and Iran-origin population, is the main source of Iran’s imports from the West. U.S. authorities consider goods re-exported from the UAE to Iran to be Emirati goods, not subject to the ban on direct U.S.-Iran trade. The UAE has been subjected to more Iranian missile and drone attacks during the war than almost any other regional state, and UAE leaders have advocated confronting Iran rather than capitulating to its demands. But even at the height of the war, UAE companies continued their broad range of engagement with Iran. And UAE banks still served essentially as Iran’s “offshore banking system” — a role that has led the U.S. to impose sanctions on some UAE financial institutions in recent years. On Wednesday, in support of U.S. strategy, the UAE suspended all trade with Iran, announcing the move after UAE authorities claimed Iran had launched several ballistic missiles on the country. Iran denied firing on the UAE, and there was no independent corroboration of the claim, but in recent weeks Iran has attacked UAE ships transiting the Strait under U.S. protection. Experts assess that Iranian and UAE companies will circumvent the new UAE-Iran trade restrictions, taking advantage of lax enforcement and informal trade and finance mechanisms developed over decades. The U.S. decision to amplify economic pressure on Iran raises questions not only about the strategy’s efficacy, but whether it might trigger a significant Iranian military response. Although they appear unified in the view that U.S. economic pressure constitutes an existential threat to the regime’s survival, senior leaders differ on how to respond to the U.S. strategy. Statements by key Iranian elected leaders last week reflect popular pressure within Iran for an end to the conflict, even if doing so requires the regime to draw back from its maximal demands. Moderate senior figures argue that deteriorating economic conditions could fuel regime-threatening unrest, if not soon alleviated by relief from U.S. sanctions. On Friday, President Masoud Pezeshkian openly called for an end to the war, stating “It is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity…The whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America has attacked our schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated around the world.” The same day, another elected leader, Majles (parliament) Speaker Mohammad Baqr Ghalibaf, who has close ties to hardline IRGC senior leaders and is far more influential than Pezeshkian, seconded the call for compromise. He stated: “No matter how much military power we have, if our people are struggling and the country lacks financial circulation and economic growth, we will not achieve progress…As someone who has experienced war, we understand the true value of peace.” Suggesting that the message advanced by moderate leaders might be resonating internally, Iran has reportedly begun re-engaging with regional mediators from Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, and Egypt to explore a possible return to talks with the Trump team. Pakistan’s Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir, a mediator trusted by both sides, is scheduled to visit Tehran today, reportedly to try to organize new U.S.-Iran talks and restoration of the MOU. Harder-line leaders, including Secretary General of the Supreme National Security Committee (SNSC) Mohsen Reza’i, an IRGC stalwart, and current IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, argue that only escalation, not compromise, will deter further assaults by Washington. This hardline camp spans many institutions beyond the IRGC, including the Majles and the office of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who still has not appeared publicly. Hardliner opposition to an unconditional return to the terms of the June MOU comes a few weeks after IRGC leaders indicated they are shifting to an "offensive doctrine" in which Iran might attack key targets pre-emptively and not wait to respond to any U.S. escalation. Last week, Reza’i threatened to renew Iranian attacks on key energy targets in the Gulf states in order to compel the U.S. to accept Iranian control of the Strait and to reposition its large force away from Iran. The hardliners reportedly assess that Trump will accept Iranian conditions rather than restart the combat that has proved unpopular in the United States. One expert, Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iran division of Israeli defense intelligence, told journalists: “…despite the signals coming from Ghalibaf and Pezeshkian, the probability of escalation is currently increasing rather than decreasing.” Other hardliners argue not for military escalation but for adjusting Iran’s economic strategy. On Thursday, Shamseddin Hosseini, chairman of the Majles economic commission, said it was important for Iran to reduce its reliance on its southern ports, where the U.S. blockade is in place, and to expand trade routes across the northeastern land border, according to Iranian state media. It is not clear whether alternative concepts such as this will prevail in the intensifying debate in Tehran over how to respond to U.S. pressure.

Democracy Dies in Darkness By Riley Beggin , David J. Lynch and Aoife Walsh Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday unveiled a sweeping campaign of financial sanctions and diplomatic pressure designed to sever Iran’s remaining links to the global economy. Dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast,” the initiative is aimed at closing loopholes in the existing U.S. financial dragnet. The Trump administration has repeatedly put sanctions on foreign companies involved in the oil trade that represents Iran’s principal source of revenue even as its military campaign against Tehran has flirted with stalemate. What readers are saying The comments express strong skepticism and criticism of the Trump administration's approach to Iran, particularly regarding the announcement of "economic D-Day" sanctions. Many commenters question the effectiveness and timing of these sanctions, suggesting they should have been... Show more This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments. Comments 465 Related Articles Rachel Chason , Rael Ombuor and Carmen Yasmine Abd Ali How Iran war shipping disruptions and price spikes widen inequality in Africa July 31, 2026 David J. Lynch China, Iran weaponized the global economy to beat the U.S. at its own game April 12, 2026 Susannah George After leader’s funeral, an emboldened Iran tests Trump, risking renewed war July 11, 2026 Washington Post staff Read the terms of Trump’s deal with Iran June 17, 2026 Sammy Westfall Trump condemned Obama’s Iran deal. Here’s how his own compares. June 19, 2026 Karen DeYoung , Susannah George and John Hudson U.S., Iran prepare for peace talks with a gulf separating the two sides April 11, 2026 View 3 more storiesView 3 more stories 5.61.5 !pixel Already have an account? Sign in Ways to read this article: Create an account Free Access this article One-Day Pass £2one-time payment, does not renew Access to all of The Post for24 hours Purchase pass Subscribe £2every four weeks for the first year Unlimited access to all articles 24/7 live news updates Subscribe

Donald Trump has decided to open a new phase in the war against Iran. After months of confrontation and testing the limits of strictly military pressure, Washington intends to move a decisive part of the conflict to the economic arena. The US president has announced an offensive aimed at minimizing Tehran's revenues, hardening financial sanctions, pursuing networks used to market Iranian oil, and threatening with economic consequences for countries and companies that continue doing business with the Islamic Republic. The Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, has promised “the harshest sanctions in history.” The strategy has an obvious objective: to achieve through economic strangulation what military force has not managed so far, forcing the Iranian regime to accept political conditions it considers incompatible with its own survival. This is not simply about reviving the “maximum pressure” policy applied during Trump’s first term. The fundamental difference is that that strategy was developed without an open war between the United States and Iran. Now the sanctions are incorporated into a prolonged military conflict and are combined with a naval blockade designed to drastically hinder Iran’s exports. Washington is thus turning the economy into a direct extension of the battlefield. The problem is that for this strategy to work the United States does not only need to subdue Iran. It also needs to persuade—or force—the rest of the world to participate in its isolation. From the battlefield to economic strangulation The Trump Administration believes Iran has a vulnerability that no military capability can resolve: its dependence on hydrocarbon revenues. Oil provides the regime with the foreign exchange necessary to finance the state, sustain imports, support its military apparatus, and maintain a minimum level of internal economic stability. Washington aims to attack precisely that point. The new strategy combines financial sanctions, trade restrictions, pursuit of intermediaries, pressure on shipping lines and crude buyers, and blocking the routes Tehran uses to maintain its exports. The United States intends to progressively close the mechanisms that allowed Iran to adapt for years to Western sanctions. The first effects are already becoming visible. Iranian exports, which in 2025 averaged around 1.4 million barrels per day, have plummeted since the start of the conflict. In August they were around 534,000 barrels per day. Iranian oil offers to Chinese buyers have also declined, and refineries that traditionally purchased that crude at significant discounts are seeking alternative suppliers. The American objective is to take that reduction much further. If Washington manages to prevent Tehran from converting its energy reserves into income, the Iranian economy could enter a critical phase. But there is a fundamental difference between economically weakening an adversary and obtaining its political capitulation. The history of sanctions shows that both are not necessarily equivalent. China holds a large part of the answer The big uncertainty of Trump’s strategy is not only in Tehran. It is in Beijing. China absorbs more than 80% of Iranian oil shipped by sea and has for years been the Islamic Republic’s principal external economic lifeline. Therefore, the United States needs to ensure that Chinese refineries and companies progressively abandon Iranian crude. Washington has already sanctioned companies, intermediaries, oil traders, and refineries linked to that trade, but the new strategy threatens to significantly raise the cost of doing business with Tehran. Here the risk of economically internationalizing the war appears. Beijing rejects unilateral U.S. sanctions and does not recognize Washington’s right to determine with which countries Chinese companies may trade. If Trump tightens secondary sanctions to broadly punish Chinese companies or financial institutions, the economic war against Iran could become a new trade conflict between the planet’s two largest economies as well. China must decide to what extent it is willing to pay to keep the Iranian economic connection open. Tehran is a strategic partner and a useful energy supplier, but not indispensable for a Chinese economy capable of diversifying suppliers. The reduction of Chinese purchases during the war demonstrates precisely that Beijing has alternatives. For Iran, however, China is indispensable. That asymmetry could become one of Tehran’s main weaknesses. The Iranian economy is approaching its limit Iran has spent decades learning to live under sanctions. It has developed opaque commercial networks, intermediary companies, alternative payment systems, triangular operations, and a vast fleet used to transport oil while avoiding international controls. This experience explains why successive Western campaigns never managed to isolate its economy completely. But the current combination is different because the sanctions coincide with a war that has deteriorated infrastructure, reduced exports, and greatly increased uncertainty. The population is beginning to feel the consequences. Inflation threatens to approach 70%, while forecasts point to economic contraction of more than 5%. Currency depreciation, unemployment, and the rising cost of essentials are rapidly eroding families’ purchasing power. Trump bets that this pressure will eventually reach the political system. If the regime must choose between maintaining its strategy of confrontation or preventing potentially explosive economic deterioration, Washington expects it will finally agree to negotiate. But this logic contains a significant risk. Sanctions can increase social unrest without necessarily provoking a rebellion against the Government. In wartime, part of the population may attribute the economic decline to the external enemy and not solely to its leaders. Economic suffering does not guarantee political moderation. It can produce exactly the opposite result: strengthening the Iranian hardliners who argue that any negotiation with the United States constitutes surrender. Trump wants to force Tehran to choose The American strategy aims to create an increasingly clear dilemma for the regime: negotiate or face a progressive economic collapse. Washington wants to use that pressure to secure concessions that military action alone cannot guarantee. The nuclear program, missile capability, Iran’s regional policy, and navigation and security conditions in the Gulf are all part of a conflict that already far exceeds its origins. The Trump Administration believes it has time. Iran, by contrast, needs constant revenues to keep its economy running. This time difference is one of the pillars of the new American strategy. But the United States also faces limits. Maintaining a large-scale military and naval operation for a long time is costly. The blockade affects the international energy market. U.S. allies may accept a limited campaign, but show greater reluctance toward a strategy that prolongs instability indefinitely. And the more aggressive the secondary sanctions, the greater the risk of confrontation with countries unwilling to accept Washington determining their trade relations. A war that could redefine the power of sanctions The economic battle against Iran will also be a test of the United States’ ability to use the international financial system as an instrument of power. For decades, the United States has enjoyed an extraordinary advantage: the dollar, its financial markets, and the centrality of its banks allow an American sanction to have effects far beyond its borders. Many foreign companies prefer to leave sanctioned markets rather than risk their access to the U.S. system. Trump intends to take that capacity to its ultimate consequences. But using it in an extreme way could accelerate precisely the trends Washington seeks to avoid. China, Russia, and other powers have been developing mechanisms for years to reduce their dependence on the dollar and create alternative financial channels. The greater the use of secondary sanctions, the greater the incentives to build systems able to evade them. That is why the outcome of this offensive will have consequences far beyond Iran. Trump is making a large-scale bet: to demonstrate that the United States still possesses enough economic and financial power to isolate practically a major state even when other major powers oppose it. If he succeeds in forcing Tehran to negotiate, Washington will have shown that economic coercion can achieve goals that months of war failed to impose. If he fails, Iran will have demonstrated that even an economy subjected to extraordinary pressure can resist when it has enough alternative networks and external support. The war against Iran thus enters a different phase. Missiles and military operations will continue to be part of the conflict, but Trump wants the decisive weapon to be access to oil, trade, banks, and the global economic system. The question is whether he can economically suffocate Iran without turning that economic war into a much broader confrontation with those who refuse to participate. CONTEXT The United States has announced an extraordinary hardening of economic pressure on Iran, combining new sanctions, a naval blockade, persecution of oil exports, and threats of measures against third countries and companies that maintain economic relations with Tehran. IMPLICATIONS The success of the strategy will depend especially on China, the main buyer of Iranian oil. A tightening of secondary sanctions could further reduce Tehran’s revenues, but it could also open a new focus of economic confrontation between Washington and Beijing. PERSPECTIVES The Trump Administration bets that economic deterioration will force Iran to accept negotiations on unfavorable terms. The risk is that the pressure strengthens the regime’s hardliners and prolongs the conflict without achieving political capitulation. The Diplomat in Spain is the reference digital newspaper for diplomats and companies that want to stay well informed. © 2024 The Diplomat in Spain. Log in to your account below Remember Me Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. © 2024 The Diplomat in Spain.

"It’s a double blow. We are implementing a blockade (against Iran) and we will impose the most severe sanctions in history," Bessent told CNBC. "This will work in Iran and we will topple the regime." United States threatens to impose the harshest sanctions in history on Iran and calls on China to cooperate. ANTD.VN - On August 20, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington would impose "the harshest sanctions in history" on Iran and urged China to cooperate with the United States. On August 19, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of economic consequences for any country that provided "any form of critical assistance to Iran," as the United States seeks to resolve the war against Iran that began with Israel almost six months ago. "Sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the Iran problem. China calls on all parties involved to act responsibly and to resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means," said a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington in response to Bessent’s remarks. According to 2025 data from analysis firm Kpler, China buys more than 80% of Iran’s oil exports. Iran has endured severe economic sanctions for nearly 50 years since the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s remarks as an attempt to distract the American public from internal financial problems, including debt and record public debt and rising interest rates. On August 20, commenting on oil prices rising to their highest level in more than three weeks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: "I think the oil market is not understanding the meaning of this economic pressure." "There is information asymmetry, and I’m not sure why oil prices have surged because of this," Bessent said. "If we are pursuing a regime of maximum economic pressure, then that means a large-scale military conflict is highly unlikely." When asked whether the United States could take action against China for its trade with Iran, Secretary Bessent said there were better topics of conversation that should be handled discreetly. "We firmly believe that everyone wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened and energy prices to fall," he said. "Note that China obtains up to 50% of its energy from the Gulf region. Therefore, cooperating with this plan would bring them enormous benefits." Source: https://anninhthudo.vn/my-doa-ap-bien-phap-trung-phat-khac-nghiet-nhat-lich-su-len-iran-keu-goi-trung-quoc-hop-tac-post663913.antd

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Washington must talk to Iran respectfully to find a "solution based on justice and honor." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Monday dismissed the threat of new US sanctions as a sign of desperation and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran, Reuters news agency reported. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, who is scheduled to hold a press conference at 14pm Eastern Time (20pm CET) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran. Iran's economy is already under immense pressure from international sanctions, the country's infrastructure has been repeatedly hit, and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the United States (US) and Israel launched attacks on February 28. But after nearly six months of war, Tehran remains defiant and has effectively shut down shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, refusing to allow unauthorized oil tankers to pass through the waterway that is crucial to global oil supplies. The effective blockade of the strait has sent world oil prices soaring. Describing what he called "the repetition of the same scenarios," Araqchi said in a video posted on Telegram: "The fact that they (American leaders) have moved from military operations... to rehashing the same old plans shows that they are desperate." He said Washington must talk respectfully with Iran to find a "solution based on justice and honor." "We were never afraid. All their actions – whether blockades or other military moves they have taken – have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail too," he said. US President Donald Trump has warned of economic consequences for any country that provides Iran with "any kind of assistance," while Besant has called on China to cooperate with Washington. China, according to data from the analytical company Kpler for 2025, buys more than 80 percent of Iranian oil exported by sea. Beijing has called for diplomacy. Iran said Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir would visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the region, but did not provide many details. Pakistan is mediating in the conflict, and a Pakistani government source said Munir would review the latest developments, including the US threat of new sanctions, according to Reuters. Trump said on Friday that Washington was watching "what happens" in the conflict. "They would love to make a deal, but they're not ready, in my opinion, to make a real deal," Trump said of Iran. The US attacks have severely weakened Iran's economy and severely damaged its navy and air force, but Tehran still has sufficient missile and drone capabilities to disrupt oil tanker traffic and attack regional rivals, according to Reuters. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on Saturday that Tehran had received "numerous messages" from neighboring countries about establishing new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation. Qalibaf did not say which countries he was referring to. He accused the US of endangering the security of its allies in the region for the sake of Israel, adding that an independent, "homegrown" regional order would bring peace and security. Trump has yet to achieve the goals he set at the start of the war, such as dismantling Iran's nuclear program - the status of which remains uncertain because United Nations (UN) inspectors have not been allowed access since 2025 - and creating the conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical government. Although Iran remains defiant, President Masoud Pezeshkian has also called for a diplomatic solution. "It would be better to end the war today, while we are strong and dignified and while the whole world recognizes our victory and emphasizes that America, contrary to all rules, attacked our schools, hospitals and infrastructure and is hated in the world," the ISNA news agency reported him as saying on Friday. See more:

World | 08:13 - 20/08/2026 Mazen News - Al-Ain: The American Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin? Wait—Actually the name is Scott Biesant? It says Scott Biesant in CNBC interview. The content describes that maximum economic pressure on Iran likely means not returning to military actions quickly. It states he would hold a Monday press conference to discuss measures mentioned by President Donald Trump. It says the sanctions would be coordinated against Iran, noting that oil markets misinterpret the meaning of economic pressure. He stressed that if countries insist on doing business with Tehran, the United States will take action against them. He said the measures would limit Iran’s ability to carry out actions via proxies. They are confident that all countries including China wish to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He said: 'We will impose the toughest sanctions in history and this will be the largest coordinated economic isolation in world history.. and we will topple this regime.' In an outline of the plan, he said the United States would tell all its allies 'Either you are with us or against us.' Mnuchin: 'If you insist on dealing with Iran—whether through transferring funds, buying its oil, or conducting shipping transfers—the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. government will use all of their power and authority to impose sanctions against you.' He added: 'The time has come for our allies and the rest of the world to decide.. we will destroy the economy of this murderous regime.' The minister dismissed skeptics of the plan by arguing that the economic pressure campaign would work in coordination with the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, saying: 'It’s a double hit.. we have the blockade and we will impose the toughest sanctions in history.' Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced the 'most crushing economic operation ever' against Iran, describing it as an economic war and an unprecedented isolation operation. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: 'No one gave Iran a bigger opportunity than I did to strike a deal, and sadly, they failed to seize it.' Trump warned that any country allowing its financial institutions or companies or airports or government bodies to grant 'any lifeline in any form' to Iran would face 'huge economic consequences.' Trump stressed the need to halt oil smuggling, barter lines, and cash transfers and the use of dummy companies as fronts, saying: 'All of that must stop now.. and you know yourselves,' he said. Trump did not specify the actions Washington would take against these countries, nor name any country. He said: 'This is a day of economic landing; we want all of our allies to stand with the United States to isolate Iran and defeat it.. these madmen are reeling, and these historic measures will cripple them and their ability to spread terrorism around the world.' He added: 'Their fleet is finished, their air force destroyed, their military factories are in ruins, their currency is worthless, and their state is on the edge of the abyss.. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.' This announcement comes as the war enters its sixth month, with no military victory or diplomatic breakthrough in sight, while the vital Strait of Hormuz remains practically closed. As the midterm elections in November approach, Trump faces domestic criticism over the costs of the war on American consumers, as well as losses in the U.S. military. Mazen News - Al-Ain The American Treasury Secretary Scott Mnuchin? in a CNBC interview, said that maximum economic pressure on Iran likely means not returning to military actions quickly. He added that he would hold a press conference on Monday to discuss the measures President Donald Trump discussed. Mnuchin said the plan would coordinate economic isolation of Iran, noting that oil markets misinterpret the meaning of economic pressure. He stressed that if countries insist on doing business with Tehran, the United States will take action against them. In his remarks, he said the measures would limit Iran's ability to take actions through its agents. They are confident that all countries including China wish to reopen the Hormuz Strait. The minister added: 'We will impose the toughest sanctions in history and this will be the largest coordinated economic isolation in world history.. and we will topple this regime.' In a preliminary outline of the plan, he said the United States will tell all its allies 'Either you are with us or against us.' Mnuchin said: 'If you insist on dealing with Iran either by transferring funds or buying its oil or conducting maritime transfers, the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. government will use their full power and authority to impose sanctions against you.' He added: 'The time has come for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision.. we will destroy the economy of this murderous regime.' The minister dismissed skeptics of the plan, arguing that the economic pressure campaign will operate in coordination with the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, saying: 'It’s a double strike.. we have the blockade and we will impose the toughest sanctions in history.' The U.S. President Donald Trump had announced the 'most crushing economic operation ever' against Iran, describing it as an economic war and an isolation operation on an unprecedented scale. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: 'No one gave Iran a bigger chance than I did to strike a deal, and unfortunately, tragically, they failed to seize it.' Trump warned that any country allowing its financial institutions or companies or airports or government bodies to grant 'any lifeline of any form' to Iran would face 'huge economic consequences.' Trump stressed the need to stop oil smuggling, barter lines, and cash transfers and the use of dummy companies as fronts, saying: 'All of that must stop now.. and you know yourselves,' he said. Trump did not specify the actions Washington would take against these countries, and did not name any country. He said: 'This is a day of economic landing; we want all of our allies to line up beside the United States to isolate Iran and defeat it.. these madmen are staggering, and these historic measures will paralyze them and their ability to spread terrorism around the world.' He added: 'Their fleet is finished, their air force is destroyed, their military factories lie in ruins, their currency is worthless, and their state is on the brink of the abyss.. Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon.' This announcement comes as the war enters its sixth month, with no military victory or diplomatic breakthrough in sight, while the vital Hormuz Strait remains practically closed. With the upcoming midterm elections in November, Trump faces domestic criticism over the costs of the war on the American consumer, as well as losses in the American military. Omani-Iranian contact to discuss 'creating conditions to resume dialogue and negotiations' Sweden.. several people injured in a school accident in the countryside and widespread security alert Turkey issues an international arrest warrant against Netanyahu regarding the Gaza flotilla Iranian President: It is better to end the war today What remains in Trump's arsenal of economic sanctions on Iran? 8 dead in a plane crash at a U.S. Air Force base in Alaska Download the app Follow us on Subscribe to the newsletter Copyright © 2018 Mawazin News Developed by Avesta Group

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday (Aug 23) said the country is facing “many problems." This statement comes as an acknowledgement of the hardships citizens face amid tensions with the United States. The latter is looking to slam the nation with a new wave of sanctions in a bid to isolate Tehran’s economy. "I understand we have many problems in society right now. We are trying to prevent these as much as we can," Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state television. He added that actions by US President Donald Trump have placed the Islamic Republic in a "full-scale economic, military, and security war" involving "the most crushing and terrifying sanctions". The fresh punitive measures follow recent vows from Washington to engineer the economic "collapse" of the Iranian government, coming nearly six months after the onset of regional military hostilities. The sanctions hit an economy already battered by severe internal turmoil. Severe inflation, sharp currency fluctuations, and eroding purchasing power have fueled repeated public unrest in recent years. Late last December, protests over the rising cost of living swiftly expanded into widespread demonstrations against political leadership. The Iranian government has faced several mass protests in recent years, often triggered by economic hardships. These have also led to inflation and exchange rate swings, leading to declining purchasing power. The official fallout from those demonstrations remains bitterly disputed, Iranian officials acknowledged over 3,000 deaths during the unrest, attributing the violence to covert operations by the US and Israel. Foreign-based non-governmental organisations stated that state security forces engaged in a broad, violent crackdown that killed thousands. Despite the converging external and internal crises, Pezeshkian pledged that his administration would focus on domestic stability and economic relief. "We are striving with all our hearts to overcome inflation, livelihood problems, unemployment, and to secure the future of the people, so that they can live with dignity and pride," he stated.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new measures Monday evening aimed at further isolating Iran’s economy, in the hope that the sweeping pressure campaign he has described as the “largest economic offensive ever” will force the ayatollahs’ regime to yield and compromise in stalled talks on ending the war. At a special news conference, Bessent unveiled what he called “Operation Economic Outcast” and announced new sanctions intended to “tighten the noose” around Iran. In practice, for now the move amounts primarily to a threat to countries around the world, demanding that they halt all business and commercial ties with Iran. Bessent said those that fail to do so could themselves face sanctions. “The clock starts ticking,” he said, calling on world leaders to “make a decision” and choose between Iran and the United States. Bessent added that President Donald Trump is holding phone calls with leaders around the world and demanding that they sever trade ties with Iran, but when asked whether there was a deadline, he said only that U.S. patience “is not unlimited.” It remains unclear whether Trump actually intends to follow through on the threat against Iran’s closest allies, chief among them China, since imposing sanctions on Beijing could risk reigniting a trade war. Analysts believe he would currently prefer to avoid such a confrontation, especially ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to Washington in a month. “Iran now faces a very clear choice, and there are only two paths open to it: total global isolation and a survival economy, or a return to normalcy with an opportunity to rejoin the global economy,” Bessent said. “Today we are launching Operation Economic Outcast to block every other option available to the Iranian regime. The Treasury Department has mapped every node, every facilitator and every network Iran has used to smuggle oil and evade sanctions. Beginning today, actions by the Treasury Department and other agencies will tighten the noose and block every potential source of revenue that funds the Revolutionary Guards and the evil Iranian regime. We are enforcing a zero-leakage approach. There will not even be the slightest breathing room for the regime to rebuild its ability to carry out terrorism against America and the world.” A source familiar with the details told Reuters earlier Monday evening that the measures include an expansion of secondary sanctions that the administration could impose on countries or other entities that violate restrictions on ties with Iran. The source described the move as a “final warning” to countries to sever their ties with the Islamic Republic, saying that if they fail to do so, their companies or other affiliated entities could risk being cut off from the U.S. dollar-based financial system. A senior administration official added that the Treasury Department had “mapped Iran’s oil smuggling and sanctions-evasion network,” and that the information would be presented to countries helping Iran circumvent sanctions as part of the warning issued to them. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that they will expand the use of secondary sanctions the administration can impose on countries or other entities that violate restrictions on ties with Iran. The source described the move as a “final warning” to countries to sever their ties with the Islamic Republic, adding that failure to do so could result in their companies or other affiliated entities being cut off from the U.S. dollar-based financial system. The source did not specify which new activities or sectors of Iran’s economy could be targeted, but said that in some Iranian sectors any activity, even in a third country, could also be subject to secondary sanctions. A senior administration official added that the Treasury Department had “mapped Iran’s oil smuggling and sanctions-evasion network,” and that the information would be presented to countries helping Iran circumvent sanctions as part of the warning issued to them. Trump has shifted strategy in recent weeks following the deadlock in talks with Iran and Tehran’s refusal to allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the “oil artery” of the global economy, unless it receives U.S. recognition of its control over the strategic waterway. Rather than resume the war, Trump chose a policy of a suffocating economic blockade and last week promised to launch what he called an “economic D-Day,” invoking the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II. He also threatened to punish countries that continue doing business with Iran. So far, only the United Arab Emirates, which had been an important hub for Tehran’s efforts to evade sanctions, has formally announced that it is cutting all trade ties with Iran. But many analysts doubt whether economic pressure, even if additional countries join the effort, can force Iran into submission quickly. Iran, which has already shifted to what has been described as a “survival economy” aimed at minimizing the effects of sanctions, has been dealing with them for decades. But its economic crisis has worsened significantly following the two most recent wars. According to the International Monetary Fund, inflation in Iran is expected to approach 70% this year. Since the latest war, prices of some food products, such as meat, have risen by far more, as much as 150%, while the economy as a whole is expected to contract by a steep 5.4%. Unemployment has surged, with at least 1 million people losing their jobs since the war broke out in late February. The Iranian currency, the rial, fell to a new record low of 1.9 million to the dollar at the beginning of the month and continued to slide ahead of the expected announcement of the new measures. On Sunday, it crossed the threshold of 2 million to the dollar, and on Monday it fell further to 2.02 million. Against that backdrop, and just hours before Bessent’s news conference, Trump wrote in a brief post on Truth Social: “IRAN IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!!” New testimony is also emerging from frustrated Iranian residents who describe growing difficulty affording basic food products. “We have basically given up on a lot of things,” 52-year-old taxi driver and father of two Ahmad Karimi told The Associated Press. Karimi said he works 15 hours a day to make ends meet. “We give up fruit, we give up protein, we have given up leisure time, and we even work on weekends.” Karimi said he believes Iran’s leaders will eventually have to act soon to ease the hardship he and many others are experiencing. “People can't keep living like this,” he said. “We’re just breathing, surviving and trying to get through one day at a time.” Sadeq Mahmoudi, a 73-year-old Tehran resident, expressed pessimism that a solution could be found that would lead to the lifting of sanctions. “There is no hope for an agreement and peace,” he told AP while waiting in line to buy U.S. dollars with the last of his savings. Although senior officials in Tehran repeatedly say they are aware of the severe crisis and the hardship facing citizens, they insist that the Islamic Republic will not surrender and are now threatening renewed escalation, including attacks on countries that join the U.S.-led economic blockade. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned Sunday: “If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. If Trump takes new aggressive steps, we will respond with force. If neighboring countries cooperate with the economic war, we will attack their interests. Any cooperation or support on their part will be interpreted as war." First published: 19:14, 08.24.26

Information agency «Ukrainian National News» Subject in the field of online media; media identifier - R40-05926 This resource is intended for persons who have reached the age of 21. All rights reserved. © 2007 — 2026 Kyiv•UNN August 23 2026, 04:52 PM•110views Abbas Araghchi said that new US sanctions would not break Iran. He called on Washington to engage in respectful dialogue and reach a fair solution. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday called the threat of new U.S. sanctions a sign of desperation and said the expected new measures would not be able to break Tehran,UNNreports, citing Reuters. Describing what he called "repeated scenarios," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a video posted on Telegram: "The fact that they (U.S. leaders) have abandoned military operations... and returned to old plans shows that they are desperate." He said Washington should engage in respectful dialogue with Iran to find a "solution based on justice and honor." "We have never been afraid. All their actions—whether blockades or other military steps—have failed, and this new issue of theirs will also fail," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump warned of economic consequences for any country providing "any kind of support to Iran," while Bessent called on China to cooperate with Washington, as China buys more than 80% of Iran's oil, according to data from analytics company Kpler for 2025. China called for diplomacy. Bessent said that the United States would impose the toughest sanctions on Iran and called on China to cooperate20.08.26, 19:50 • 6131 view U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday, threatened to impose the "toughest sanctions in history" against Iran. Iran's economy is already under enormous pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has repeatedly come under attack, and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the United States and Israel began attacks on February 28. However, Tehran remains defiant after nearly six months of war and has virtually paralyzed shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, refusing to allow unauthorized oil tankers through the waterway vital to global oil supplies. The effective blockade of the strait has led to a rise in global oil prices. Antonina Tumanova

ERBIL— Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed the threat of new US sanctions against Tehran as a sign of “desperation,” saying the measures will fail to force Iran into submission. Araghchi made the remarks in a video posted on Telegram on Sunday, describing Washington’s planned economic measures as another “repetitive scenario” that has failed to achieve its objectives in the past. “The fact that they (US leaders) have moved on from military operations… to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate,” Araghchi said. His comments come as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepares to announce further sanctions against Iran. Bessent has described the forthcoming measures as “the toughest sanctions in history” and said Washington intends to intensify economic pressure on Tehran. Araghchi said Iran would not be intimidated by the new measures, arguing that previous US efforts, including sanctions and military pressure, had failed to achieve their intended goals. “We have never been afraid. All of their actions — whether blockades or other military moves they have made — have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well,” he said. The Iranian foreign minister also called on Washington to engage with Tehran through respectful diplomacy, saying any potential agreement should be based on “justice and honor.” The US administration has increasingly shifted its focus toward economic pressure after months of conflict with Iran. Bessent has said the new sanctions would complement the existing US blockade and warned that Washington intends to target entities and countries providing economic lifelines to Tehran. Iran, meanwhile, continues to face severe economic pressure from longstanding international sanctions and the effects of the conflict. The standoff has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit route, contributing to higher energy prices. The latest exchange comes as diplomatic efforts continue alongside the economic and military confrontation. Iran has maintained that negotiations must respect its sovereignty and interests, while Washington says increased pressure is intended to force Tehran to accept a broader settlement.

The American president Donald Trump announced today the launch of what he described as the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country,” against Iran, warning any country that allows its financial institutions, companies, airports, or government agencies to provide any kind of lifeline to Tehran of facing “enormous economic consequences.” Trump, in his post, said: “No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a bigger opportunity to make a deal than me, and tragically for them, they failed to seize it,” announcing that what is coming is an “economic war and unprecedented isolation.” He enumerated the outcomes of the confrontation so far: “Their navy is gone, their air force destroyed, their military factories reduced to rubble, their currency worthless, and their country hangs by a thread.” A list of prohibitions directed at allies and intermediaries In his post, Trump defined the activities to be halted “now,” namely: oil smuggling, swap lines, transfers of funds, money-changing companies, ship registration records, and shell companies, adding a veiled warning: “You know who you are.” He described the move as a “D-Day of economics” in a reference to the Normandy landings during World War II, calling on “all our allies to stand with the United States to isolate the Iranian threat and defeat it,” considering that these “historic measures will cripple their ability to export terrorism around the world.” He ended with his recurring refrain: “Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon.” Context: locked treasuries and a maritime siege The announcement comes after weeks of escalating economic pressure; the U.S. maritime blockade reduced Iran’s oil exports from about two million barrels per day to 200,000 barrels per day, at a cost estimated at $435 million per day to Tehran, while Iran remains the second most sanction-hit country in the world with more than 6,000 sanctions affecting its financial, oil, petrochemical, aviation, and digital currency sectors. Recently the Senate approved the “Lindsey Graham Act,” which provides Trump with additional tools through secondary sanctions and tariffs on countries continuing to purchase Iranian oil—a path that the new announcement appears to rely on, with the risks of raising global energy prices and possible friction with Beijing, which accounts for more than 80% of Iran’s sea oil exports.