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

DUBAI — Iran strongly criticized the United States' new economic sanctions imposed on Friday, describing them as state terrorism. It asserted that other nations were legally bound not to implement these sanctions. Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury Department announced further targeted measures against Iran. This occurred as mediators intensified their efforts to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

This waterway, which once facilitated 20% of global oil supplies, had been blocked by war six months prior, remaining a significant barrier to achieving a peace agreement. The U.S. administration warned countries on Monday to sever their commercial ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions, referring to their economic campaign as an "economic D-Day."

However, the Treasury Department refrained from implementing penalties outright. President Trump reiterated on Thursday that the U.S. was not engaging in dialogue with Iran, while the White House stated that the economic pressure would persist until Iran began negotiating in a meaningful manner. In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry declared in a statement on Friday that all countries were required by international law to abstain from implementing the sanctions.