Iran Condemns Impending US Sanctions as a Threat to Global Sovereignty and Classic Colonialism

Iran has strongly criticized upcoming United States sanctions, labeling them a “complete erosion of sovereignty.” This response follows US President Donald Trump’s threat to penalize any nation engaging in commerce with Tehran.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei argued that the US announcement constitutes “an assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty” directed at United Nations member states. He emphasized that no government has the right to force foreign banks, enterprises, or airports to halt trade with Iran.

“The end result would be the complete erosion of sovereignty as the foundational basis of the UN-based inter-State system, and a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism,” Baghaei stated.

US President Donald Trump announced what he termed the “most crushing economic operation” against Iran on Wednesday, warning that any country interacting with Tehran would face severe economic consequences. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced this position on Thursday, asserting that the new sanctions would cause Iran to “collapse” and framing the stance as a binary choice where other nations are “either with us or against us.”

Iranian state media quickly noted that Tehran has endured US sanctions for decades. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the new measures, stating they are “bound to fail.” Writing on X alongside a 2012 tweet from former President Barack Obama concerning earlier sanctions, Araghchi remarked, “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies.”

This renewed diplomatic friction occurs as peace talks between the two nations have stalled. The US Navy continues its blockade against Iran’s ports, while oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has essentially stopped.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, US President Donald Trump remarked that his administration is “seeing what happens” in the ongoing conflict. “They would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal in my opinion,” he said.

While US forces have blockaded Iranian vessels in their ports, the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily congested, leaving thousands of seafarers stranded on hundreds of ships. Tracking data indicated that only four commodity ships navigated the strait on Thursday, with none being large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers. Nevertheless, Iran has permitted several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the strait following repeated appeals from Baghdad, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. IRNA reported that securing this special permission for Iraqi tankers was a primary objective during Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s visit to Iraq.