'Fully Prepared': Iran Threatens Retaliation After Trump Widens Sanctions

Iran has threatened retaliation against the expansion of the United States' economic sanctions, with Tehran expressing confidence that major trading partners would resist Washington's pressure campaign. Taking to social media, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf downplayed the impact of new US restrictions, claiming Washington is in no economic position to further restrict its relations with other nations. The remarks came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the so-called measures on Monday to "cut off Iran's economic lifeline." The Team Trump member, however, stopped short of the most punishing sanctions, saying countries that continued trading with Iran risked being forced out of the dollar-based financial system.Bessent declined to identify which of Iran's trading partners would be targeted or reveal when those penalties would take effect. Instead, he said that the US would provide them time to comply with the new directive.