TEHRAN, 25 August, 2026 (Nosheen): Iran has vowed to retaliate against expanded US economic sanctions, warning that any further pressure could trigger both military action and additional reductions in oil exports from the Gulf. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new measures on Monday, saying the sanctions were aimed at cutting off what Washington described as Iran’s economic lifeline. However, he stopped short of imposing the most severe penalties, warning countries that continued trading with Iran could risk losing access to the US dollar-based financial system. The US Treasury Department also announced sanctions against 60 individuals, entities and vessels linked to Iran. The measures did not include Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iranian oil trade. Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Tehran was fully prepared to deal with the new sanctions and had its own tools to respond to US pressure. He said Iran’s adversaries should expect a response, adding that China and Russia had not accepted the US measures and predicting that other countries would also resist Washington’s pressure campaign.Meanwhile, Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that Iran could strike vital US interests and energy chokepoints if its infrastructure came under threat, according to Press TV.
The latest measures come as Washington seeks to increase economic pressure on Tehran amid a prolonged conflict that has disrupted energy markets and raised concerns about further instability in the Middle East. Although neither side has carried out major strikes in recent weeks, the conflict shows little sign of reaching a diplomatic settlement. The United States is also seeking to end Iranian attacks on ships in the Gulf and, through its allies, attacks in the Red Sea.Nearly six months after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the conflict has significantly weakened Iran’s conventional military capabilities and caused widespread economic damage. However, Tehran is believed to retain missile and drone capabilities that could threaten Gulf states and oil tankers operating near the Strait of Hormuz. The exact status of Iran’s nuclear programme remains unclear, while thousands of people have been killed during the conflict, most of them in Iran and Lebanon.Despite the announcement of the new sanctions, oil prices fell by more than $2 a barrel on Monday, although investors remained concerned about the possibility of further disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies.