Iran warns countries against supporting new U.S. sanctions

What This is

• President Donald Trump and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have announced plans for a new round of sweeping economic penalties aimed at isolating Iran and pressuring its leadership.
• The U.S. is also warning other countries, banks, and companies that they could face major penalties if they keep trading with Iran or help it move money and oil.
• Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned nearby countries that Tehran could treat them as enemies and target their interests if they join the U.S. economic campaign.
• Iranian officials have suggested retaliation could include pressure on energy infrastructure and on oil-shipping routes, including routes outside the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran has condemned the threatened U.S. measures as “economic terrorism” and says it is preparing to withstand sanctions while also keeping the door open to diplomacy.
• China is central to the sanctions debate because it remains Iran’s main oil customer, and U.S. officials are pressing Beijing to reduce or stop purchases.
• Several accounts say the pressure campaign has already disrupted or constrained shipping and oil flows around the Strait of Hormuz and contributed to higher energy prices.
• Iran is also trying to blunt pressure by expanding regional trade ties, including a preferential trade agreement with Oman and new currency arrangements.

Why This Matters

• The U.S. approach tests how much power Washington still has to police global trade through the dollar and access to U.S. banks.
• Iran’s threats raise the risk of a wider regional crisis because Gulf states’ economies depend on steady energy exports and secure shipping lanes.
• If major buyers like China resist, the standoff could spill into U.S.-China relations and reshape how sanctions are enforced.
• Prolonged economic pressure and retaliation threats can harden politics on both sides, making diplomacy harder even when both claim to prefer talks.