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 US in its economic pressure campaign against Iran.

Rezaei issued a specific warning to Gulf states, stating that if they join sanctions, Iran would block oil exports from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. He also claimed that US President Trump had been persuaded by Netanyahu to wage an economic war on Iran.

The US is set to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on Iran's economy. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged cooperation with Washington from countries such as China, which buys more than 80 per cent of Iran's shipped oil. Beijing has called for diplomacy.

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