Iran: Stricter US sanctions planned against Iran threaten to put further pressure on its already strained economy, while oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iran on Saturday condemned Washington’s plans for new economic sanctions, saying the measures could also affect its major trading partners, including China.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to announce the new measures on Monday after warning of what he described as the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran.
Bessent has urged China to cooperate with Washington. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, accounting for more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil in 2025, according to analytics firm Kpler. Beijing has called for diplomacy.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the planned sanctions as an attempt to impose US authority beyond its borders.
“The secondary sanctions find no foundation in international law,” he said in a post on X.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, warned neighboring countries against assisting the United States.
“We are telling all nearby countries not to join the US economic war; otherwise we will consider them as enemies,” Rezaei said on Iranian state television.
How has the Strait of Hormuz been affected?
Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have fallen sharply, with Tehran threatening to strike unauthorized oil tankers attempting to use the strategically important waterway.
Only four commodity ships crossed the strait on Thursday, according to ship-tracking data, and none were large crude oil carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers.
Iran has, however, allowed several Iraqi oil tankers to pass after repeated requests from Baghdad, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the US military had helped move an average of about 8 million barrels of oil a day through the strait over seven days. That compares with more than 20 million barrels per day before the war, equivalent to about one-fifth of global oil consumption.
The disruption has raised concerns about global energy supplies and added pressure to oil prices.
Iran’s economy is already under severe strain from years of sanctions, while US attacks have significantly weakened its navy and air force. Tehran still retains missile and drone capabilities that could disrupt tanker traffic and threaten regional targets.
Iranian armed forces chief of staff Abdollahi highlighted the country’s missile production capabilities during a visit to an underground ballistic missile facility, according to Iranian state television.
What is Iran’s response to the pressure?
Iranian officials have maintained a defiant position while also calling for greater regional cooperation and a diplomatic solution.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iran had received messages from neighboring countries about possible new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation.
He accused Washington of undermining regional security and called for an independent, “homegrown” regional order.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, has called for an end to the conflict through diplomacy.
“It would be better to end the war today,” the ISNA news agency quoted Pezeshkian as saying on Friday.
The latest developments come after nearly six months of conflict since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28. Although active exchanges of fire have stopped, there has been no clear sign of renewed peace negotiations.
US President Donald Trump has warned countries against providing Iran with economic support and said Tehran would need to agree to what he considers an acceptable deal.
The conflict has killed thousands of people, mainly in Iran, while the United States has reported more than 750 military personnel wounded and 18 killed.