Countries joining US sanctions will be considered enemies, Iran warns

Iran has warned countries against joining US economic sanctions, stating they will be considered enemies if they do so. According to Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Tehran would target the interests of countries that help the United States in its economic pressure campaign against Iran.

Rezaei, as reported by Middle East Eye, stated that if neighbouring countries join the US in its economic war, "not a drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz". He also claimed that Trump's actions had increased global interest in acquiring nuclear weapons.

The US is set to announce new sanctions on Iran, which could further strain the country's economy. China's cooperation with Washington has been urged by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as China buys over 80% of Iran's shipped oil. In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated that the new sanctions are an "assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty" with "no foundation in international law".

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Middle East Eye, Channel News Asia, Ajel English, Jerusalem Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.