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Iran vows 'devastating' response as US threatens toughest ever economic hit

Iran’s military says it will respond broadly as Washington prepares sanctions that U.S. officials say could target countries buying Iranian oil.

  • On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the United States will impose the "toughest sanctions in history" to topple the Iranian regime, while Iran vowed a "devastating" response to the new threats.
  • The nearly six-month-old conflict has strained global energy markets, with Iran curbing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz; the United States reimposed its blockade on Iranian ports on July 13 following failed ceasefire attempts in April and June.
  • Beijing buys more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil according to analytics firm Kpler, and analysts note Beijing could leverage its status as a major exporter of vital rare-earth minerals to retaliate against the United States.
  • While China's embassy in Washington urged "political and diplomatic means" to resolve the issue, Major General Ali Abdollahi warned the Islamic Republic's response would be "broad and decisive" across land, sea, air, and cyberspace.
  • Bessent will provide enforcement details on Monday, aiming to collapse the regime, though Iran has weathered near-continuous economic sanctions for nearly 50 years since the Islamic Revolution, suggesting established resilience mechanisms.
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34 Articles

Center

Iran said Friday that its response to any new threats from the US would "be devastating," after Washington committed itself to imposing the most severe financial sanctions in history, in order to overthrow Iranian leadership, reports...

·Bucharest, Romania
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Lean Right

From Tehran condemned Washington’s warning of an unprecedented economic offensive; the Iranian Armed Forces promised a “crushing” response, despite President Masud Pezeshkian’s call to end the war

·Vicente López, Argentina
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Reuters broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
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