DUBAI(National Times)- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States will impose \u201cthe toughest sanctions in history\u201d on Iran, suggesting the move could reduce the need for new major military operations, as Tehran warned on Friday that any fresh US threats would draw a \u201cdevastating\u201d response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bessent\u2019s comments on Thursday followed President Donald Trump\u2019s threat a day earlier of \u201cEconomic Warfare\u201d and warning of economic consequences against any country that provided \u201cany type of lifeline to Iran.\u201d Bessent promised details next week. Oil prices rose to more than a three-week high on Thursday following those US threats of financial penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure why oil has popped up on this,\u201d Bessent told CNBC. \u201cIf we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,\u201d he said, using a term referring to military force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are going to collapse this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,\u201d he said, describing a naval blockade reimposed on Iran in July and the \u201ctoughest sanctions in history\u201d as a \u201cone-two punch\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, when asked if the US could target China for doing business with Iran, Bessent said many conversations were best to have in private.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China calls for diplomacy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to Washington\u2019s appeal to governments including Beijing to join efforts to isolate the Iranian economy, China said that US \u201csanctions and pressure\u201d would not resolve the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About the US threats, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said \u201csanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue\u201d. He said, \u201cChina calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spokesman Lin reiterated the need for all parties to take \u201cresponsible measures\u201d in resolving the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChina opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council,\u201d Lin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Devastating response\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran declared its response to any new US threats would be \u201cdevastating\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith preparedness across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace, Iran\u2019s armed forces will respond to the enemy\u2019s new threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses,\u201d said Chief of Staff of Iran\u2019s Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was defiant in a post on X that referenced previous US efforts to apply economic pressure to Iran and Trump\u2019s comments at the start of the war. \u201c14 years ago: \u2018Most crippling sanctions in history.\u2019 Failed. 8 years ago: \u2018Maximum pressure.\u2019 Failed. 5 months ago: \u2018Unconditional surrender.\u2019 Failed. Today: \u2018Most crushing economic operation ever.\u2019 Bound to fail. We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,\u201d he posted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said it was time to end the months-long Middle East war with the US as Tehran appeared to be in a stronger position than Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity,\u201d Pezeshkian said in a mee\u00adt\u00ading with doctors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DUBAI(National Times)- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States will impose \u201cthe toughest sanctions in history\u201d on Iran, suggesting the move could reduce the need for new major military operations, as Tehran warned on Friday that any fresh US threats would draw a \u201cdevastating\u201d response. Bessent\u2019s comments on Thursday followed President Donald Trump\u2019s threat a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":131717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n