Iran condemns US plans to announce new sanctions

Iran has strongly denounced the United States' plan to announce new sanctions, labeling the move an "assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent member state of the United Nations." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated on Saturday that such secondary sanctions lack any foundation in international law. This condemnation comes as the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday to unveil what are described as "the toughest sanctions in history" against Iran. These measures are expected to place additional strain on Iran's economy, which is already grappling with immense pressure from existing sanctions. Oil shipments through the vital Strait of Hormuz are reportedly at a virtual standstill, with Tehran threatening to target unauthorized oil tankers. The US is also urging cooperation from China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, which imports over 80% of the country's shipped oil according to 2025 data. While Beijing has called for diplomacy, the escalating tensions highlight a prolonged conflict with no immediate signs of peace talks. The US has effectively blockaded Iranian vessels, significantly reducing oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz from over 20 million barrels per day to just a few commodity ships daily. Despite diminished capabilities following US attacks, Iran maintains missile and drone capacity to impede oil traffic and threaten regional rivals.

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assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent member state of the United Nations.