US economic sanctions are a declaration of war, says Iran

Iran's Foreign Ministry has declared new U.S. economic sanctions as a "declaration of war" against all United Nations member states. The ministry announced on Saturday that these sanctions represent an illegal U.S. attempt to expand its authority beyond national borders, escalating rhetoric just days after President Donald Trump vowed to launch the "most biting economic campaign" ever imposed on any nation.

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The announcement of these new economic sanctions is an attempt by America to implement extraterritorial sovereignty against all independent UN member states.

Two senior Iranian officials issued strong condemnations within 48 hours, signaling a coordinated defiance against what Tehran describes as unlawful U.S. overreach. Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated on social media platform X that the new sanctions "far exceed a bilateral economic dispute." He argued that no government has the right to compel foreign banks, companies, or airports operating under their own sovereign jurisdiction to halt legitimate trade with a third country.

Baghaei asserted that these secondary sanctions lack a basis in international law and violate the principle of sovereign equality enshrined in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the UN Charter. He cited the International Court of Justice's stance in the Nicaragua case, which prohibits interference in other nations' affairs. Baghaei linked the sanctions to past U.S. naval blockades, suggesting the combined measures render other nations' sovereignty temporary, conditional, and revocable.

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This measure goes far beyond an ongoing and illegal economic war against a country; rather, it is an attempt to impose extraterritorial sovereignty on all independent UN member states.

He warned that succumbing to such pressure would not grant immunity but would legitimize foreign control over legitimate banking, business, and airport operations in other countries. If left unchecked, Baghaei cautioned, this policy would erode national sovereignty, a fundamental principle of the UN-based international system, and signal a return to overt, large-scale colonialism with disastrous consequences. The U.S. previously imposed sanctions on Iranian ports starting April 13, which were temporarily lifted in June 2026 before being reinstated on July 14, 2026.

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No government has the right to force foreign banks, companies, or airports operating under their own sovereign jurisdiction to stop legitimate trade with a third country.