Washington is ramping up pressure on Iran with what officials call the toughest financial penalties in history. The goal is to cut off the country’s economic lifelines and weaken its leadership. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said more details of the new sanctions will come on Monday. President Donald Trump has already warned that any nation offering support to Iran will face serious economic consequences.
Iran has responded with strong words. The chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the country is ready to deliver a crushing and punishing reply across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace. Iranian leaders insist they will not back down even as American strikes have damaged the economy and conventional military forces.
Despite these losses, Tehran still holds significant missile and drone power. Officials note that Iran can still disrupt oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that once carried about a fifth of the world’s traded oil. Any major interruption there would push global fuel prices higher and hurt many countries.
The conflict has lasted nearly six months and has drawn in other Gulf nations. Thousands of people have died. Gas prices have risen and public support for the war in the United States has dropped. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed President Trump’s popularity at its lowest point in his current term. He has not yet achieved key aims such as dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme or creating conditions for political change inside Iran.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf admitted the economy is under heavy strain. He told business leaders that military strength alone is not enough if people go hungry and the country lacks financial activity and production. At the same time, he said Iran must prepare to manage the new sanctions.
Oil prices rose on Friday after the US threat of wider economic measures. China buys more than 80 percent of Iran’s exported oil and has spoken against sanctions, calling instead for diplomacy. Nato’s top commander held a meeting of allied defence chiefs to discuss ways to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for free navigation.
Both sides continue to issue strong statements while the human and economic costs keep rising. The coming days will show how far Washington is prepared to go and how Iran chooses to respond.
