US Widens Iran Sanctions as Tehran Threatens Retaliation

The United States has expanded economic sanctions against Iran, prompting Tehran to threaten retaliation. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions against 60 individuals, entities and vessels, while warning that countries continuing to trade with Iran risk being cut off from the dollar-based financial system.

Bessent did not identify which countries could face penalties or when they would take effect, adding that they would be given time to comply. The Treasury’s new sanctions list did not include Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iran’s oil trade. China is Iran’s largest oil buyer.

Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said the country was prepared for the sanctions and had its own means of retaliation. Tehran had already threatened a possible military response and further cuts to oil exports from the Persian Gulf.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that US vital interests and energy chokepoints could be targeted if Iran’s infrastructure were threatened.

Meanwhile, Pakistan said it had made “significant progress” in talks with Iran aimed at ending the conflict. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir held talks in Tehran on preventing further escalation, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and bringing the fighting to a swift end.

Ahead of his visit, Munir spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkiyan called for a negotiated solution and rejected US coercion.

(Reuters, bak)