WORLD Iran warned of a devastating response to new US threats after Trump vowed toughest-ever sanctions. Treasury Sec Scott Bessent to announce details Monday. Iran has warned that any fresh US threats will draw a "devastating" response after the Trump administration vowed to impose the toughest financial sanctions in history to pressure Tehran and topple its leadership.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would announce details on Monday, calling it a "one-two punch" with the ongoing blockade. "We are going to have the toughest sanctions in history. We are going to collapse this regime," he said. President Donald Trump warned that countries providing "any type of lifeline to Iran" could face economic consequences.
The escalation comes as the nearly six-month-old US-Israel war with Iran disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushes oil prices higher. Iran's Armed Forces chief of staff, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said Tehran was ready across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace to deliver "crushing, punishing and devastating responses.
" Despite damage to its economy and conventional forces, Iran retains missile and drone capabilities that could threaten tanker traffic through Hormuz. Trump said on Friday Iran was not ready for the "right deal" and made an extraordinary claim about the waterway.
"We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz. I view the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now," Trump said. He added Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. China, Iran's largest oil buyer, rejected the US approach.
Beijing said, "Sanctions and pressure do not help resolve the problem." Over 80% of Iran's shipped oil went to China in 2025. Iranian leaders admitted severe strain. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said, "We must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions.
No matter how much military power we have, we won't survive if people are hungry." Oil rose after the threat. Brent settled at $94.39 and WTI at $87.06 on Friday. Only seven commodity ships passed through Hormuz on Thursday, as per Kpler data.