Iran condemns US plans to announce new sanctions

Warning that nations joining the US ‘economic war’ would be deemed enemies, Iran said the move could impact trading partners including China

Iran on Saturday denounced US plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic’s economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.

Iran on Saturday warned countries against taking part in the United States’ “economic war” against the Islamic Republic, saying they would be considered enemies.

“We declare to all countries … do not join the economic war waged by the United States. Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy,” said Mohsen Rezai, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, on state television.

After nearly six months of war since the US and Israel launched air strikes against Iran on February 28, the sides are not firing at each other but also showing no sign of pursuing peace talks.

Oil shipments are at a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran threatening to strike any unauthorised oil tankers that try to transit the vital waterway, and Iran’s economy is already under immense pressure from sanctions.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to hold a press conference on Monday after threatening “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran. Bessent has also urged cooperation with Washington from China, which buys more than 80 per cent of Iran’s shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. Beijing has urged diplomacy.