Iran has warned the United States of retaliation after Washington expanded economic sanctions against Tehran, while insisting that its key trading partners are unlikely to follow the new US restrictions.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the latest measures, arguing that Washington lacks the economic leverage to further limit Iran's ties with other countries.
US targets Iran's economic lifeline
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the measures on Monday, describing them as an effort to "cut off Iran's economic lifeline." However, the administration stopped short of imposing its toughest threatened penalties.
Bessent said countries that continued doing business with Iran could eventually lose access to the US dollar-based financial system. He did not name the countries that could face such action or specify when penalties would begin, saying they would be given time to comply.
The Treasury Department separately announced sanctions against 60 individuals, entities and vessels. Notably, the measures did not target Chinese financial institutions suspected of helping facilitate Iran's oil trade, despite China being Tehran's biggest trading partner.
Tehran says it is ready
Responding to Washington, 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."
"Iran's trading partners, both in the media and through messages sent to us, have made it clear that they don't take these statements into account anywhere," he added in a post on X.
Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh also said Tehran was "fully prepared for the US sanctions."
"Naturally, the enemies intend to launch an economic terrorist attack on us, but we also have our own tools and know how to play the game. Our defence is no longer so defensive; the enemies should wait for an attack," Madanizadeh told state television.
He said China and Russia had not "accepted" the US measures and predicted resistance from other countries as well.
Military response remains on table
Iran has also threatened possible military action and further cuts to oil exports from the Gulf.
Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned of heavy strikes against US interests and energy chokepoints if Iranian infrastructure is attacked, Press TV reported.
The latest escalation comes as the conflict remains unresolved, with energy prices under pressure and diplomatic efforts yet to produce a breakthrough.