Iran vows to retaliate after US widens sanctions

InternationalTop NewsIran vows to retaliate after US widens sanctionsBy Reuters -Aug 25, 2026Add ARY News on GoogleBanners with pictures of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are displayed on a street in Tehran, Iran, August 22, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERSAAResizeIran promised to retaliate against expanded U.S. economic sanctions that the Americans said would cut off Iran’s economic ​lifeline, with Tehran expressing confidence that major trading partners would resist Washington’s pressure campaign. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the measures on Monday but stopped short of the ‌most punishing sanctions, saying countries that continued trading with Iran risked being forced out of the dollar-based financial system. Bessent declined to identify the countries that would be targeted or reveal when those penalties would take effect, saying he would instead provide them time to comply with the new directive. The Treasury Department did announce new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels, but the list did not include any of the Chinese financial institutions ​suspected of facilitating Iran’s oil trade. Before the announcement, Iran threatened both a possible military response and further reduction in oil exports from the Gulf in response to any U.S. ​economic measures. Afterward, Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said, “We are fully prepared for the U.S. sanctions.” the enemies intend to launch an economic terrorist ⁠attack on us, but we also have our own tools and know how to play the game. Our defense is no longer so defensive; the enemies should wait for an attack,” ​Madanizadeh told state television. He also said neither China nor Russia had “accepted” the U.S. measures, and predicted other countries would resist them. Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, vowed ​heavy blows to U.S. vital interests and energy chokepoints if...