TEHRAN: Iran rejected threatened new US sanctions on Sunday, Aug. 23, as senior officials said President Donald Trump’s intensified economic campaign would fail to force Tehran to change course.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said in Iran’s northern Alborz province that Trump’s announcement of what he called the “most crushing economic operation” amounted, in the IRGC’s view, to an admission that military pressure had failed. Press TV carried his remarks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately dismissed the prospect of additional sanctions, saying previous blockades and military measures had not defeated Iran.
He argued that Washington ultimately had no alternative to dialogue based on what he described as respect, justice and dignity.
Read: Iran Condemns New US Sanctions Ahead of Monday Announcement
Iranian state media also quoted Araghchi as describing Trump’s “economic war” as a repeat of longstanding US pressure tactics. He said renewed threats of attacks and sanctions reflected what he called Washington’s lack of a new strategy.
Trump announced plans for what he described as “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale” against Iran.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is due to hold a press conference at 2 pm on Monday after threatening as “the toughest sanctions in history.”
Read: Asim Munir Visit to Iran Set for Monday Talks
The diplomatic track remains active. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir would visit Tehran.
On Monday for talks with senior Iranian officials. Pakistani government sources told Reuters that the discussions would include Trump’s threat of sanctions and developments in the conflict.
