Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Iran Condemns Trump’s Economic Operation as Global Threat
The United States says it may use very strong economic penalties against countries that help Iran.
President Donald Trump called the plan an economic operation and economic warfare.
Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, disagreed with this approach.
He said American pressure could hurt the world economy and the independence of countries.
He also argued that the United States was trying to distract people from its own debt problems.
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is still open and that ships are using it.
The strait is an important route for energy shipments.
Iran and the United States had agreed to hold talks after a June 18 memorandum, but the talks’ future is now uncertain.
The disagreement comes after an escalation between the two countries last month.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi called US economic pressure a threat to the global economy and national sovereignty.
President Donald Trump announced what he called an unprecedented economic operation against countries supporting Iran.
Trump described the campaign as economic warfare and warned Iran could face very severe sanctions.
Araghchi said the US policy was diverting attention from America’s debt and rising interest costs.
The dispute follows an unclear diplomatic process after a June 18 memorandum set a 60-day period for negotiations.
- Who
- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and US President Donald Trump.
- What
- Iran condemned the United States’ threatened economic operation and possible sanctions against Iran and its supporters.
- When
- Araghchi made his remarks on Thursday after Trump’s announcement on Wednesday; the related memorandum was signed on June 18.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Iran, the United States, and the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.
- Why
- Trump said the measures would pressure Iran and countries providing it a lifeline, while Araghchi said US economic pressure threatens global economic stability and national sovereignty.
Iran’s Position
US Position
Economic pressure
Iran’s Position
Araghchi said US economic terrorism threatens the global economy and the sovereignty of nations, and that continuing failed policies would deepen Iranian opposition.
US Position
Trump said the United States would impose an unprecedented economic operation on countries providing Iran a lifeline and warned of very severe sanctions.
Reason for the announcement
Iran’s Position
Araghchi argued that the so-called economic operation distracts from the United States’ unprecedented debt and rising interest costs.
US Position
Trump presented the measures as economic warfare intended to isolate and pressure Iran.
Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Position
Iran’s foreign minister characterized the broader US approach as a threat to national sovereignty, while the article does not provide a separate Iranian position on current shipping through the strait.
US Position
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz remains open, that many vessels are using it, and that the world is less dependent on it because of increased US energy production and new supply routes.
- Iranian official
- Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister
- US announcement
- Donald Trump described the planned action as an unprecedented economic operation and economic warfare.
- Potential measures
- Trump warned that Iran could face very severe sanctions.
- Iran’s response
- Araghchi called US economic pressure economic terrorism and said it threatens the global economy and national sovereignty.
- Strait of Hormuz
- Trump said the waterway was open and that many vessels were passing through it.
- Diplomatic timeline
- A June 18 memorandum called for negotiations within 60 days; that period ended on Monday.
- Current talks
- The future of negotiations remains unclear after an escalation between Iran and the United States last month.