US Seeks to Knock Out Iran, Tehran Hits Back with Defiance
Iran has condemned the expansion of United States sanctions aimed at isolating its economy. Tehran described Washington’s latest policy as a ‘serious violation of the law’, while expressing confidence that many countries will not join the pressure campaign.
The criticism came nearly six months after the conflict between the US and Iran began without a clear resolution. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the latest sanctions package on Monday (24/8/2026), but stopped short of implementing some of the harshest options that Washington had previously threatened.
Bessent said countries that continue to trade with Iran risk being excluded from the US dollar-based financial system. However, he did not say when the measure would be applied or which countries could be targeted. According to Bessent, those countries would be given time to comply with Washington’s new directives.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs assessed that the latest US sanctions are not merely economic pressure against Tehran, but also a threat to international law and the United Nations Charter. In a statement, the Iranian government stressed that the issue now has a broader scope.
‘The matter is no longer limited to Iran,’ the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday (26/8/2026). The ministry also stated that countries that value their sovereignty and national interests will not accept actions deemed to be violations of the law.
‘No honourable country that values its sovereignty and national interests will accept the normalisation of such serious violations of the law and systematic intimidation,’ it said.
The US Treasury Department in its latest package announced sanctions against 60 individuals, entities and vessels. However, the list did not include Chinese financial institutions that have long been suspected of facilitating Iranian oil trade.
China has been the largest buyer of Iranian oil for several years. However, the US blockade of Iranian ports has halted the flow of oil to China since Washington reimposed the blockade in mid-July.
Trump previously said he expected to host Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. At the same time, Washington is seeking to avoid restrictions on China’s critical mineral exports.
Beijing said on Tuesday that its cooperation with Iran is carried out within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with by other parties.
Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said China and Russia do not accept the US policy. He also predicted that other countries will resist Washington’s sanctions.
Amid the economic pressure, a number of signals have emerged pointing to the possible reopening of mediation channels to end the war. The conflict, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, has halted most shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz.
Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz was a vital route for about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Iran and Oman said on Tuesday that they had discussed a proposal to establish a ‘joint temporary navigation corridor’ in the Strait of Hormuz. The two countries also discussed plans to clear mines from the waterway.
US President Donald Trump repeated his earlier claim that all mines in the Strait of Hormuz had been removed or detonated. Trump also said Iran had been warned that any ship or boat laying new mines would be destroyed.