Iran has made harsh statements in response to new U.S. sanctions, asserting that they are more than just economic warfare. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the new economic sanctions from the United States are "illegal" and represent an "assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty".
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that the new sanctions would likely reduce the need for military action. He promised that the U.S. would create "the greatest coordinated economic isolation in history" against Iran.
Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf called on Muslim countries to develop a plan to overcome "cruel" sanctions.
'Crushing economic operation'
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. would launch what he called the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country" against Iran, threatening severe financial penalties on any nation that helps Tehran.
Shipping traffic through the economically crucial Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased, while oil prices have remained stable.
Analysts question whether the new round of sanctions will change Iran's behavior, as Iran is already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world.
