The US government is increasing pressure on allies to participate in an “economic war” against Iran. Tehran speaks of a breach of international legal principles.
The leadership in Tehran is convinced that the “economic war” against Iran announced by the USA would be a violation of international law. Banks, companies or airports that are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of a country should not be forced by other states to “renounce lawful trade with a third country,” wrote Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai on X.
In order to drastically increase the economic pressure on Iran, US President Donald Trump threatened draconian punishments for states that continue to support Iran. Baghai now explained: “Economic coercion aimed at forcing a sovereign state to change its lawful political decisions” represents a clear violation of the law. Such “secondary sanctions” violate the Charter of the United Nations.
In conjunction with the US-imposed naval blockade of Iranian ports, the plan announced by Trump “reduces the sovereignty of all other states to something temporary, conditional and revocable, dependent on the will of another power,” the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman continued. In this regard, he warns against a “return to classic colonialism”.
Iran has allowed several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by the Iranian state news agency IRNA. The leadership in Tehran is responding to repeated requests from Iraq, which they have reached through various channels. The granting of the special permit was one of Baghdad's main demands during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's recent visit to Iraq.
As part of the blockade against Iran, the US armed forces diverted 68 merchant ships, according to the responsible regional command Centcom. In addition, three ships were put out of action and two others were boarded, the US military said.
US President Donald Trump, in his own words, believes Iran is not yet ready to conclude the “real deal”. The US is closely monitoring developments in the conflict, Trump told reporters when asked whether the US's military options were limited. The US has complete control over the entire region around the Strait of Hormuz, he added. The leadership in Tehran would like to reach an agreement, but in his opinion they are not yet ready for the real deal.
Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian called for an end to the war with the USA. “It would be better to end the war today, as long as we have power and dignity and the whole world recognizes our victory,” Peseschkian said, according to the semi-governmental Iranian Student News Agency.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is calling for closer economic ties with Iraq in view of the threat of new US sanctions. Both countries should use their national currencies in trade to reduce dependence on the US dollar, Ghalibaf explains to business representatives in Baghdad, according to his Telegram channel. In addition, Iran must develop plans to overcome the “unfair sanctions”.
Shipping traffic in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz has halved compared to the previous day to seven freighters. This emerges from data from the analysis company Kpler. There are therefore neither large crude oil nor liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers among the ships. The decline comes amid growing concerns about shipping safety in the Middle East as peace talks between the US and Iran falter.
After the announced “economic war” against Iran, the US government is increasing the pressure on its allies to participate. “It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC. “You’re either on our side or against us.”
After reports of abuses on a US aircraft carrier that has been operating in the Middle East for months, another Navy aircraft carrier is now in operation in the region. The USS George Washington had arrived the day before, the US command Centcom said on platform X.
Iran has sharply rejected US President Donald Trump's threat to wage an “economic war” on the country. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in English on the X platform that the announcement serves to distract from the USA's own problems.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted due to the conflict between the US and Iran. According to data from the provider Kpler, only nine raw material freighters passed through the strait on Wednesday.
Iranian media have reacted unimpressed to the US President's threat of an “economic war” against the country. Donald Trump has previously spoken repeatedly about Iran's supposedly imminent collapse.
Against the backdrop of a lack of success in negotiations with Tehran, US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with an unprecedented “economic war”. Every country, including its financial institutions, companies, airports and government authorities, must also expect “huge economic consequences” if they support Iran.
The British Maritime Safety Authority reported that a cargo ship was hit by unknown projectiles 40 nautical miles (around 74 kilometers) southeast of the Yemeni port city of Mocha.
US President Donald Trump published a map of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf on his Truth Social platform, captioned "New U.S. Territory." Criticism quickly followed from Tehran.
