Iran Threatens Consequences for Countries Joining US Economic Operation
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has warned various countries of ‘consequences’ if they take part in the United States’ economic operation against the country. Tehran authorities affirmed their determination to fight the sanctions through multilateral capabilities.
The warning to countries cooperating with the US was delivered by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, as reported by AFP and Reuters on Monday (24/8/2026).
‘America, a country that should have come to help the Iranian people, is instead using every available means to punish the Iranian people for one reason only: because of their steadfastness in resisting pressure against their independence, national sovereignty and dignity,’ he said.
‘In this regard, the necessary warnings have certainly been and are being conveyed, because any involvement with America in carrying out its aggressive actions against Iran will inevitably bring its own consequences,’ Baghaei said in his latest statement on Monday (24/8).
‘Iran will utilise all its multilateral capabilities to counter these economic sanctions,’ he stressed.
US President Donald Trump last week announced ‘the most crippling economic operation ever conducted against any country’. He described the maximum pressure campaign against Iran as ‘economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale’.
The US President also warned that any country providing ‘any form of rescue assistance’ to Iran would face ‘VERY SEVERE economic consequences’.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned third-party countries against continuing commercial relations with Tehran. He even urged international buyers, especially China, the largest importer of Iranian crude oil, to stop purchases or risk facing secondary sanctions and financial penalties.
In his statement, Bessent hinted that the US would target ‘fear-stricken countries’, which he said were implementing ‘appeasement’ policies by establishing economic relations and shared financial systems with Iran. However, he did not specify the concrete measures.
Iran, in its response, condemned the US sanctions threat as ‘economic terrorism’ and said such sanctions ‘will certainly fail’. Tehran also released a strongly worded statement hinting at the possibility of a large-scale military response.