Iran Says New Sanctions Threatened by 'Desperate' U.S. Will Fail

IRNA

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iran’s Foreign Minister dismissed the threat of new U.S. sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday, saying the expected measures would fail to force Tehran into submission.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has recently threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran, which is already under huge pressure from international sanctions. 

But Tehran remains defiant after nearly six months of war and has brought shipping to a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, refusing to allow unauthorised oil tankers to transit a waterway that is vital for global oil shipments. The effective ⁠blockade of the strait has pushed up global oil prices.

Describing what he said were "repetitive scenarios", Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachghi said in a video posted on Telegram: "The fact that they (U.S. leaders) have moved on from military operations ... to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate."

He said Washington must speak to Iran respectfully to find "a solution based on justice and honour."

"We have never been afraid. All of their actions - whether blockades or other military moves they have made - have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of economic consequences against any country that provides "any type of lifeline to Iran" and Bessent has urged cooperation with Washington by China, which buys more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. China has urged diplomacy.

Iran said Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, would visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the ‌region, but ⁠gave few details.

Pakistan has been mediating in the conflict and a Pakistani government source said Munir would touch on recent developments including the U.S. threat of new sanctions.

Trump said on Friday that Washington was observing "what happens" in the conflict.

"They would love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion," Trump said of Iran.

U.S. attacks have severely diminished Iran's economy and devastated its navy and air force, but Tehran maintains enough missile and drone capability to impede oil tanker traffic and attack regional rivals.

Iranian Parliament ⁠speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Saturday that Tehran had received "numerous messages" from neighbouring countries about establishing new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation.

Ghalibaf did not say which countries he was referring to. He accused the U.S. of endangering the security of its allies in the region for the sake of Israel, adding that an independent, "homegrown" regional order would deliver peace and ⁠security.

While Iran remains defiant, President Masoud Pezeshkian has also called for ⁠a diplomatic solution.

"It would be better to end the war today, when we are powerful and have dignity, and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America, contrary to all regulations, attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure and is hated in the world," the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying on Friday.



PUKMEDIA