Iran Vows Retaliation as Trump and US Officials Signal Unprecedented Economic Chokehold

Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref attended a meeting in Moscow, Russia on November 17, 2025.

Iran plans to take action after US President Donald Trump made clear that inflicting economic pressure is part of Washington’s latest strategy, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported Monday.

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref ordered “intensified market supervision” and said “inspection bodies should deal seriously with overpricing, underweight selling and hoarding,” reported Mehr.

He also announced that a central market oversight headquarters would start with offering guidance, which would move to legal action if violations continued, the outlet added.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Newsmax interview the US is going to apply measures that have “never been seen” on Iran, indicating Washington will continue to economically isolate the country and blockade its ports.

His comments came after Trump signaled plans to choke Iran economically.

“We are only semi-negotiating with (Iran). We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Trump said.