Iran Rejects US Pressure Campaign to Isolate Tehran Economically

TEHRAN: Iran has rejected US efforts to pressure other countries into limiting their economic and financial ties with Tehran, saying sovereign states should make decisions based on their own national interests.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to comments by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said Washington had sent teams to different countries as part of an effort to economically isolate Iran.

Gharibabadi said independent governments should decide for themselves how they conduct economic and trade relations with Iran rather than follow instructions from the US Treasury Department.

He also said the era of imposing policies through threats and sanctions was coming to an end, reflecting Tehran’s opposition to Washington’s expanding economic pressure.

US Seeks Greater Economic Pressure on Iran

Bessent has said the United States is working with other countries to increase pressure on Iran’s economy.

Washington has sought to restrict Iran’s access to international financial networks and limit economic activities that could help Tehran maintain trade despite US sanctions.

The Trump administration has also pushed for broader international cooperation in its efforts to isolate Iran economically. Reuters reported that Trump has called for the complete economic isolation of Iran while diplomatic efforts over the conflict and the Strait of Hormuz continue.

Tehran Defends Economic Relations

Iran has rejected the US approach and continues to seek economic and commercial relations with countries willing to trade with Tehran.

Gharibabadi said countries should determine their relations with Iran according to their own interests and priorities.

The dispute reflects a wider confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with economic sanctions, financial restrictions and access to international markets remaining important parts of the broader conflict.

Economic Pressure Amid Wider Iran-US Tensions

The disagreement comes as the United States and Iran remain divided over the war, the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of renewed diplomatic negotiations.

At the same time, regional mediators are continuing contacts between Washington and Tehran over a possible diplomatic settlement.

Iran has maintained that diplomacy remains an option, while the United States continues to press Tehran over its nuclear programme and other security issues.

The competing positions highlight the broader economic dimension of the Iran-US confrontation, with Washington seeking greater international pressure on Tehran and Iran working to preserve its external trade relationships.