Iran has threatened retaliation against the expansion of the United States’ economic sanctions, with Tehran expressing confidence that major trading partners would resist Washington’s pressure campaign. Taking to social media, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf downplayed the impact of new US restrictions, claiming Washington is in no economic position to further restrict its relations with other nations.
Tehran also threatened both a possible military response and further reduction in oil exports from the Gulf even before any US economic measures were announced.
Bessent declined to identify which of Iran’s trading partners would be targeted or reveal when those penalties would take effect. Struggling to resolve an unpopular war that has pushed energy prices higher, President Donald Trump’s administration in the US appears to be counting on further economic pressure, even though Iran has spent decades under layers of American and international sanctions that have battered its economy but have not deterred its leadership. The Treasury Department did announce new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels, but the list did not include any of the Chinese financial institutions — Tehran’s biggest trading partner– suspected of facilitating Iran’s oil trade.
Instead, he said that the US would provide them time to comply with the new directive. After the United States’ announcement, Ghalibaf said, “Americans know that no one buys their bombast; the United States is not in an economic position to further restrict its relations with other countries. Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh also said Tehran was “fully prepared for the US sanctions. He also said neither China nor Russia had “accepted” the US measures and predicted other countries would resist them.
