US threatens toughest sanctions yet against Iran: What we know

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the United States is preparing a new round of economic pressure on Iran as diplomacy remains stalled over the conflict that began in February. The report says President Donald Trump has threatened what he called a “most crushing economic operation,” including penalties on any foreign government, bank, business or transport company that continues to deal with Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also backed a push for what he described as the toughest sanctions in history, saying Washington wants other countries to join efforts to isolate Iran economically.

Iran responded by warning that any wider sanctions campaign would violate sovereignty and amount to extraterritorial pressure on other states. Tehran’s foreign ministry said foreign institutions cannot be forced to sever commercial ties with Iran, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the measures would fail. Iran later warned it could retaliate against any country that joins the US effort, with a senior security official saying such states would be treated as enemies and could face strikes on their interests.

The article says the threat matters because it could pull third countries, especially in the Gulf and Asia, further into the confrontation. China has already rejected sanctions as a solution, while Gulf states face the risk of economic fallout if the dispute escalates. Al Jazeera also notes that regional countries are trying to balance ties with Washington against fears that a deeper conflict could disrupt trade, energy flows and stability across the Middle East.