Iran urges nations not to join new US sanctions, mediators push to reopen strait

DUBAI — Iran strongly criticized the United States' latest economic sanctions imposed on Friday, calling them an act of state terrorism and asserting that other nations are legally bound not to comply with them. The Iranian foreign ministry issued a statement in response to these actions while the U.S. Treasury Department announced additional targeted measures against Iran.

The U.S. move occurred as international mediators intensified their efforts to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway, which previously accounted for 20 percent of global oil supplies, had been disrupted by the ongoing conflict six months prior. Its re-opening remains a critical challenge in any potential peace agreement.

On Monday, the Trump administration issued a stern warning to other countries, urging them to sever their economic ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions as part of what was described as an "economic D-Day" by the administration. However, the Treasury Department did not explicitly impose any penalties in this announcement.

In a separate development on Thursday, President Trump reiterated that the U.S. was not engaged in any diplomatic discussions with Iran. The White House maintained that the U.S. economic campaign against Iran would persist until Tehran demonstrated a genuine willingness to engage in meaningful talks.