Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Iran Threatens Trump, Warns Sanctions Backers of Retaliation
Iran is angry that the United States wants other countries to join sanctions against it.
Sanctions are economic restrictions that can make it harder for a country to trade.
Mohsen Rezai said countries that help impose the sanctions would be treated as enemies.
He warned that Iran could target American oil and economic companies.
He also said Iran had so far targeted only military bases.
Rezai warned that a new action by Donald Trump could cause a much larger conflict.
The United States is asking major trading partners of Iran to support its campaign.
China criticized the approach and said sanctions would not solve the wider Middle East conflict.
Iran warned countries not to join US economic sanctions against Tehran.
Mohsen Rezai said governments imposing restrictions would be treated as enemies.
Rezai threatened to target US oil and economic companies if sanctions expand.
He warned that further action by Donald Trump could trigger an “earthquake” confrontation.
China criticized the US sanctions approach, saying it would not resolve the wider Middle East conflict.
- Who
- Iranian Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezai, US President Donald Trump, the Iranian government, the United States, and countries being asked to support US sanctions.
- What
- Iran threatened to treat countries joining US economic sanctions as enemies and warned of possible attacks on US economic interests.
- When
- Saturday, August 22; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- The warning was issued on Iranian state television, concerning US and Iranian interests in the region and elsewhere.
- Why
- The United States was pressing governments and major Iranian trading partners to restrict Tehran’s access to international markets.
Iran and China’s Position
United States’ Position
Economic sanctions
Iran and China’s Position
Iran warned that countries joining US economic restrictions would be treated as enemies, while China argued that sanctions would not help resolve the wider Middle East conflict.
United States’ Position
The United States was pressing governments, including major Iranian trading partners, to support a campaign restricting Tehran’s access to international markets.
Potential escalation
Iran and China’s Position
Mohsen Rezai warned that Iran could strike US oil and economic companies and said a new action by Donald Trump could produce an “earthquake” confrontation.
United States’ Position
The article describes the Trump administration as stepping up pressure on allies but does not state a specific new US action.
- Iranian official
- Mohsen Rezai, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council
- Target of warning
- Countries that participate in US economic restrictions against Iran
- Threatened targets
- US oil and economic companies around Iran and elsewhere
- Current claimed targets
- Iran said it had so far targeted only US military bases
- US policy
- Washington was urging governments to support restrictions on Tehran’s access to international markets
- China’s position
- China criticized the sanctions approach and said it would not resolve the wider Middle East conflict