Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Iran Condemns Trump's 'Crushing' Sanctions as Economic Terrorism
The United States announced very strong new economic sanctions against Iran.
Sanctions are rules meant to make it harder for a country to trade or use money.
US President Donald Trump said the measures would target Iran’s oil and financial networks.
He also warned other countries and businesses not to help Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly rejected the action.
It called the sanctions “economic terrorism” and said they harmed ordinary Iranians.
Iran said it would continue defending its security and national interests.
The disagreement is happening while tensions are high around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s foreign minister also said the US policy would fail and could hurt the global economy.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the latest US sanctions “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity.”
Donald Trump described the measures as the “most crushing economic operation” against any country.
The sanctions target oil-smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies.
Trump warned countries and institutions supporting Iran could face “tremendous economic consequences.”
The dispute comes amid heightened US-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.
- Who
- The United States, President Donald Trump, Iran’s Foreign Ministry and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
- What
- The United States announced expanded economic sanctions against Iran, prompting Iran to condemn them as “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity.”
- When
- The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued its statement on Thursday, after Trump announced the measures.
- Where
- The dispute concerns US-Iran relations and comes amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- Trump said the sanctions were intended to isolate Iran and pressure it over failed negotiations, while Iran said they continued a hostile and unlawful US policy.
Iranian Position
US Position
Purpose and legitimacy of sanctions
Iranian Position
Iran says the sanctions are illegal, inhumane economic terrorism and crimes against humanity that target the fundamental rights of Iranian citizens.
US Position
Trump presents the measures as economic warfare intended to isolate Iran and pressure it after, in his view, Tehran failed to take a deal opportunity.
Likely effectiveness
Iranian Position
Iran says repeating maximum-pressure policies will produce past failures, further discredit US policymakers and strengthen Iran’s determination to resist.
US Position
Trump says the operation will stop Iran’s economic lifelines and warned that supporters of Tehran would face severe economic consequences.
Regional security
Iranian Position
Iran says US economic and military pressure threatens global peace, sovereignty and the global economy.
US Position
Trump says the Strait of Hormuz remains open, the US naval blockade has been effective, and Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.
- US action
- Trump announced what he called the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.”
- Iran’s response
- Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the sanctions as “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity.”
- Targeted networks
- The measures are intended to target oil smuggling, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies.
- Secondary consequences
- Trump warned that countries, businesses, financial institutions, airports and government entities supporting Iran could face “tremendous economic consequences.”
- Strait of Hormuz
- Trump said the Strait was open and claimed a US naval blockade had been “100 per cent successful.”
- Nuclear issue
- Trump reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
- Iranian position
- Iran said it would remain committed to defending its security, national interests, independence and sovereignty.