Iran said on Friday (August 21, 2026) that its response to any new U.S. threats would be “devastating” after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership.
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The chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the Islamic Republic’s reaction would be broad and decisive. Treasury chief Scott Bessent said he would give details on Monday of the planned sanctions, which follow a warning from President Donald Trump of economic consequences against any country that provided “any type of lifeline to Iran.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the country’s main negotiator in mediated talks with the United States, said Washington appeared to have concluded it could not prevail in its direct military confrontation. “We must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them,” he said in neighbouring Iraq, accusing the U.S. and Israel of resorting to what he said was economic and “cognitive” warfare. Earlier reporting noted: Iran dismisses U.S. threats on ‘coordinated economic isolation’ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected the economic threats made against his country, saying that such “failed policies” will stir more hostility among Iranians and “bring more failures”. President promised “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” but provided few details. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday (August 20) that Iran will face the “greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world”.
Earlier reporting noted: The U.S. Earlier reporting noted: U.S.
