Iran vowed to respond to new U.S. sanctions imposed on 60 individuals, entities and vessels, as regional tensions intensified following the announcement of the measures on Monday. The U.S. Treasury Department expanded the restrictions, targeting entities linked to Iran's energy and financial sectors amid ongoing geopolitical friction.
The sanctions announcement coincided with a message delivered by Pakistan's army chief to Tehran, which Iranian officials described as an attempt to revive stalled political negotiations. A Pakistani government source stated that Washington had indicated it would reverse the sanctions either before or during a new round of talks, according to local reports.
Oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global crude shipments, fell to 5 million barrels per day on Monday, provisional data from Vortexa showed. This represents a sharp decline from pre-conflict levels exceeding 20 million barrels daily, or roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption. The reduction underscores the broader impact of regional instability on energy markets.
Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh warned that the U.S. would face consequences, stating that 'the enemies should wait for an attack.' He also noted that neither China nor Russia had accepted the latest U.S. measures. Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi of Iran's Revolutionary Guards reiterated the threat, vowing 'heavy blows to U.S. interests and energy chokepoints' if Iran's infrastructure were targeted.
The latest developments follow a series of regional incidents, including an oil tanker strike approximately 17 kilometers northeast of Oman's Ash Shishah on Tuesday. The vessel's location and timing added to concerns over maritime security in the Gulf. Meanwhile, Oman's foreign minister arrived in Iran on Tuesday for talks, as diplomatic efforts continued to de-escalate tensions.
The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has already resulted in thousands of casualties, primarily in Iran and Lebanon. An interim deal was reached in June, but Washington renewed its blockade of Iranian ports in mid-July, further straining relations. The U.S. administration has indicated that displaced diplomats could begin returning to the Middle East as early as this week, according to reports by The New York Times.
Analysts caution that the latest sanctions and retaliatory threats risk further destabilizing the region, with potential implications for global energy supplies and financial markets. The situation remains fluid, with upcoming U.S. congressional elections in November and a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month adding layers of uncertainty to the diplomatic landscape.
