Iran says new US sanctions violate sovereignty of other states

What the report says

Iran has condemned a new round of US sanctions announced by President Donald Trump, arguing that the measures overstep national borders and pressure third countries that do business with Tehran. In comments posted on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Washington was trying to impose its will on other UN member states and described the policy as a threat to state sovereignty. Al Jazeera reported that his remarks came after Trump said the US would impose harsh economic penalties on any country whose institutions continue engaging with Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced the administration’s message, saying the sanctions were intended to severely weaken Iran and that other governments would have to choose sides. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also dismissed the latest measures as destined to fail, framing them as part of a familiar pattern of pressure that Tehran has faced for years. Al Jazeera noted that Iran has been under US sanctions for decades, with Iranian officials portraying the latest step as a repeat of earlier campaigns.

The exchange comes amid stalled diplomacy between Washington and Tehran and heightened regional strain. Al Jazeera reported that US naval actions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have affected shipping, with only limited vessel traffic passing through the waterway. The report also said Iran recently allowed several Iraqi oil tankers to transit the strait after requests from Baghdad, showing that some limited movement has continued despite the broader confrontation.