Iran Threatens to Treat Countries Joining US Sanctions as Enemies

Iran has warned other countries not to participate in the United States’ ‘economic war’ against the Islamic Republic, saying it would consider them as enemies.

The United States has been urging its allies to join Donald Trump’s new campaign to isolate Iran’s economy, as the war launched by Trump continues into its sixth month.

“We declare to all countries… do not join the economic war waged by the United States,” said the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezai, on state television, as reported by AFP on Sunday (23/6/2026).

“Any country that participates in the implementation of economic restrictions against us will be considered an enemy,” he added.

If those countries refuse to ‘distance themselves’ from the United States, Iran will ‘harm’ their interests, he continued.

Rezai also asserted that the Islamic Republic still has other measures in the war. Iran claims that ‘we have not attacked any American economic interests’. Iran threatened to attack US oil companies around Iran if sanctions are imposed on them.

“So far, we have only targeted military bases, but if they want to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States has oil companies and economic interests around Iran and elsewhere, and we will attack those companies,” Rezai threatened.

If Trump ‘takes action, our confrontation will be like an earthquake’, he added.

Previously, the US has also asked other governments to join its efforts to isolate Iran’s economy, especially China, which is one of Iran’s main strategic partners.

However, China criticised the initiative, arguing that American sanctions will not resolve the conflict in the Middle East.

One of Iran’s main trading partners, the United Arab Emirates, announced on Tuesday the suspension of all trade and financial transactions with Tehran until further notice.