Iran Vows 'Fully Prepared' Response to US Economic Sanctions

Tensions between Iran and the US have escalated as Iran warned it is 'fully prepared' to respond to new economic sanctions imposed by the US. The warning came after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the new measures, which target 60 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Iran.

The sanctions are aimed at cutting off Tehran's economic lifeline and pressuring Iran to end its war efforts. However, officials in Tehran have dismissed the new measures, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arguing that Washington is not in a strong enough economic position to further isolate itself from other countries.

Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh struck a defiant tone on state television, saying Tehran was 'fully prepared for the US sanctions' and warning that the country's response would no longer be purely defensive. He also predicted that neither China nor Russia had accepted the US measures and that other nations would resist them too.

Brent crude edged up 0.3% to $92.44 a barrel, while US WTI crude rose 0.4% to $85.38 after both benchmarks fell more than 2% in the previous session, according to Reuters.