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The chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces warned that the country would deliver crushing punishing and devastating responses to any fresh US threats with full preparedness cited across land sea air air defence and cyberspace according to a Reuters report that quoted Iranian media. Major General Ali Abdollahi issued the statement after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined plans for the toughest financial penalties in history aimed at toppling the Iranian leadership with further details scheduled for Monday. President Donald Trump had earlier cautioned that any nation offering any type of lifeline to Iran would face tremendous economic consequences as part of a strategy to isolate the Tehran government.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf who serves as Iran’s chief negotiator in mediated talks with the United States suggested in remarks delivered in Iraq that Washington had realised it could not win a direct military clash. Ghalibaf urged planning to overcome the unjust sanctions while addressing Iranian and Iraqi business figures where he conceded the economy’s vulnerabilities. “No matter how much military power we have we won’t survive if people are hungry and we don’t have financial turnover economic growth and national production” Ghalibaf said according to IRNA.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi struck a defiant tone in a post on X that catalogued past American pressure campaigns against Tehran. “14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed. 8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed. Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.’ Bound to fail. We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies” Araqchi wrote. The minister’s comments reflected Tehran’s position that the latest measures would fare no better than previous efforts that ultimately collapsed.
The exchange occurs against the backdrop of a conflict that erupted nearly six months earlier between the US Israel and Iran which has twice produced ceasefire announcements in April and June only for both to crumble rapidly according to Reuters. A naval blockade was reimposed on Iran in July choking off its oil exports that had helped channel about one fifth of the world’s traded oil through the Strait of Hormuz in the period before February hostilities. Oil prices edged lower on the day yet stayed on course for a second weekly gain after an initial surge triggered by the sanctions announcement.
Bessent addressed the market reaction during an interview with CNBC where he expressed uncertainty over why oil prices had risen in response to the maximum economic pressure policy. The treasury secretary added that the approach suggested there would not be a large-scale kinetic restart of military operations. “We are going to collapse this regime” Bessent said adding that it was time for allies and the rest of the world to make a decision.
China rejected the US sanctions push with foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian telling reporters that such measures and pressure would not resolve the Middle East conflict. Lin called on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and pursue a resolution through political and diplomatic channels. The spokesman reiterated opposition to illegal unilateral sanctions that lack any basis in international law or authorisation by the UN Security Council.
