Trump says Iran is ‘collapsing’, Tehran defies threat

On Monday, US President Donald Trump declared Iran to be "completely collapsing" as the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, prepared to announce what he described as the "toughest sanctions ever imposed on Tehran." The harsh economic measures come amid Iran's already strained economy and the country's exposure to further punitive actions from the United States.

Bessent was scheduled to deliver a press conference at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday to unveil the new sanctions. He had threatened to enforce "the toughest sanctions in history" on Tehran. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi dismissed the threat as a sign of desperation, stating that the measures would fail to compel Tehran to accede to US demands.

Araqchi, in a video posted on Telegram, criticized the US approach as a series of "repetitive scenarios" and urged Washington to engage with Tehran respectfully to reach a solution based on justice and honor. He emphasized that previous US actions, such as blockades and military moves, had all failed, and predicted that the latest attempt would meet the same fate.

Despite international sanctions, the economic hardships and attacks on its infrastructure, Iran has remained defiant since the US and Israel launched attacks against the Islamic Republic on February 28. The country has also effectively halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial global oil route, leading to higher oil prices and broader economic concerns.

Trump has warned of economic consequences for any nation providing aid to Iran, and Bessent called for cooperation from China, which buys over 80% of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from Kpler. China has called for diplomacy as the US readies to heighten economic pressure on Tehran.