Islam Times – Iran has warned that oil exports across the Gulf could be halted if Washington proceeds with a new economic campaign against Tehran, as the US prepares additional sanctions against Iran and countries maintaining business ties with it.On Sunday, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran would consider participation in Washington’s economic pressure campaign a hostile act.
He warned that if the economic war continues, “not a single drop of oil” would be exported through the Strait of Hormuz or elsewhere in the Gulf.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would unveil a sweeping package of financial measures Monday aimed at further isolating Iran and pressuring its trading partners. In the Financial Times, Bessent described the measures as an “economic D-Day” and the largest financial offensive ever assembled against an adversary.
The US also signaled that governments and economic actors continuing to deal with Tehran could face pressure. Bessent criticized countries maintaining financial and economic links with Iran and urged them to consider the consequences.
Washington has previously pressed China to cooperate with its campaign, citing Beijing’s reliance on Gulf energy. However, China’s embassy in Washington rejected the approach, saying sanctions and pressure would not resolve the issue and calling for diplomacy instead.
At the same time, Rezaei linked Washington’s economic pressure directly to energy security in the Persian Gulf, where major oil and gas producers depend on routes around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has repeatedly warned that preventing its oil exports while allowing other regional producers to continue shipping energy cannot be sustained.
The latest escalation could also revive the risk of military confrontation following several weeks without direct US-Iran strikes. Despite months of US-“Israeli” attacks, Iran retains significant missile and drone capabilities capable of threatening regional military assets and maritime traffic.
Iran was already facing inflation, currency weakness, energy shortages and longstanding sanctions before the war. The war has further strained the economy through infrastructure damage, disrupted trade and production, and rising reconstruction costs.
Meanwhile, direct Tehran-Washington negotiations remain stalled. The two sides have not held face-to-face talks since June in Switzerland, while Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey continue diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is expected to visit Tehran Monday for talks with senior Iranian officials.
Iran said the visit is intended to support regional peace and security, while a Pakistani government source said the talks are also expected to address recent developments, including Washington’s threat of additional sanctions.