The Iranian government has warned of retaliation following the U.S. announcement of new sanctions targeting 60 individuals, organizations and vessels. Speaking on state television, Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh stated the country was fully prepared for the measures, describing them as economic terrorism and warning that Iran possesses its own tools to respond. He also indicated a shift in military doctrine, suggesting a more proactive stance against perceived threats.
The sanctions, unveiled by U.S. Treasury Under Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday, aim to pressure Iran into de-escalating regional conflicts. While the measures avoid targeting Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iranian oil trade, Bessent warned that countries continuing to trade with Iran risk exclusion from the dollar-based financial system. The U.S. has granted affected nations a transition period to comply with the new rules.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in efforts to reduce tensions. According to a statement from the Pakistani military on Tuesday, recent talks in Tehran yielded significant progress toward de-escalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has seen sharply reduced traffic, with only two commodity tankers transiting on Monday—the lowest daily total since early May.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi reiterated threats of military retaliation, stating that any attack on Iranian infrastructure would trigger a response. The conflict, which escalated six months ago following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, has already resulted in thousands of casualties, primarily in Iran and Lebanon. A June interim agreement has since collapsed, and while Iran’s conventional military capacity has been diminished, it retains substantial missile and drone arsenals capable of disrupting maritime activity in the region. The status of Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear.
