Tehran/Washington, 23 August (H.S.): The confrontation between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz is set to enter a more aggressive phase, with Washington warning of a major economic offensive against Tehran. While the threat has intensified pressure on Iran, Tehran has shown no signs of backing down and has warned neighbouring countries against supporting the United States, saying any country that joins Washington on the economic front could be treated as an enemy.

The United States is expected to announce major measures on Monday, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent likely to outline Washington’s plans.

Nearly six months after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28 this year, the two sides are not currently exchanging fire, but there are no clear indications of progress towards peace negotiations either. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been severely disrupted, while Tehran has threatened to target unauthorised oil tankers attempting to navigate the strategic waterway.

Iran’s economy is already under severe pressure from sanctions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent could announce what has been described as the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran at a press conference on Monday. Bessent has also urged China to cooperate with Washington. According to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler, China purchases more than 80 per cent of Iran’s oil exports.

According to reports by Arab News, The News and Al Jazeera, Iran has warned neighbouring countries against joining the US economic campaign and threatened action against those involved in oil routes. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran would target countries that supported the US economic offensive.

Rezaei’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced plans for what he described as the toughest economic action against Iran. Trump has also warned countries providing financial or other assistance to Tehran of serious economic consequences.

Speaking to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB on Saturday, Rezaei said all neighbouring countries should refrain from joining the US economic campaign, warning that Tehran would consider them enemies if they did so.

He further warned that if neighbouring countries ignored the warning, Iran could halt oil exports through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. He said Tehran would not allow “a single drop” of oil to leave through the strategic waterway.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the new sanctions would target what he described as Iran’s economic lifelines, including oil-smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, vessel registration systems and front companies.

“This will be an ‘Economic D-Day’,” Trump said, urging US allies to stand with Washington to isolate and defeat Iran. He also said Tehran would have to abandon its ambition of becoming a nuclear power and would not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

Rezaei, however, accused Trump of creating greater nuclear insecurity rather than strengthening global nuclear security. He claimed that Washington’s actions against Tehran had increased interest among countries in acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref also criticised Trump’s threat of launching an economic war, saying US sanctions would not weaken the determination of the Iranian people. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi likewise criticised Trump’s proposed measures.

Meanwhile, amid growing tensions with Iran, Bulgaria said two US KC-135 tanker aircraft had departed the country. Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the two aircraft had left Bezmer Air Base.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday that the anticipated US announcement amounted to an attempt to impose extraterritorial sovereignty on every independent member state of the United Nations. In a post on X, he said there was no basis in international law for such “secondary” sanctions.

Earlier, Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the country would respond to threats from its adversaries with a “decisive, punitive and devastating” military response.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar