Iran Rejects Trump’s New Economic Sanctions, Calls Them Distraction from US Crisis
TEHRAN: Iran has rejected new economic measures announced by US President Donald Trump, accusing Washington of using increased economic pressure against Tehran to divert attention from its own financial challenges.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media platform X that Trump’s so-called “Economic D-Day” was an attempt to shift attention away from the United States’ domestic crisis, record debt and rising interest costs.
Araghchi described US economic policies as a threat to the global economy and the sovereignty of countries around the world. He said continuing what he called failed policies would bring further setbacks for the United States while increasing opposition among the Iranian people.
The Iranian foreign minister also shared posts from The New York Times and CNN highlighting that US national debt had reached $40 trillion.
Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States would launch an “unprecedented economic war and isolation” against Iran. He warned that countries providing Iran with any form of support could face “tremendous economic consequences,” but did not identify specific countries or provide details of the measures.
China also criticised the US approach. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said sanctions and pressure would not resolve the dispute and urged all sides to act responsibly and pursue a political and diplomatic solution.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said greater emphasis on economic measures could reduce the need for another major military operation against Tehran.
The latest US threats pushed global oil prices to their highest level in more than three weeks on Thursday, reflecting concerns over potential disruptions to energy supplies from the Middle East.
Analysts warned that escalating economic or military pressure on Iran could create difficulties not only for Tehran but also for the United States, its allies and the wider global economy.
Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said Iran has significant capacity to withstand pressure and possesses means to impose costs on the United States, its allies and the global economy.
Iran has faced stringent US economic sanctions for decades, while the Trump administration imposed additional measures against Tehran following the outbreak of war in February.
Meanwhile, negotiations aimed at ending the conflict remain stalled. The 60-day negotiating period set for reaching a peace agreement ended this week, with no announcement of an extension.
US media reported that Trump said negotiations between Washington and Tehran could resume “at some point,” but no specific date has been announced.
