Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says sovereign states should determine economic ties with Tehran according to their own interests, rejecting Washington’s expanding pressure campaign.
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iran has rejected a US-led effort to deepen its economic isolation, saying sovereign countries should determine their commercial and financial relations with Tehran according to their own interests rather than pressure from Washington.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi made the comments after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington had dispatched teams to engage countries as part of efforts to increase economic pressure on Iran.
Gharibabadi accused Washington of behaving as though it could dictate other countries’ economic relations. He argued that independent governments decide their trade and economic engagement with Iran based on national priorities rather than instructions from the US Treasury Department.
The Iranian official also said the era of imposing political objectives through threats and sanctions was approaching its end. His remarks followed recent US efforts targeting Iran’s aviation and financial links.
Bessent, meanwhile, has portrayed recent restrictions involving Iran as evidence that Washington’s pressure campaign is producing results. He thanked Türkiye, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom for measures that he said were contributing to restrictions on Iranian economic activity.
According to Bessent, Türkiye and Oman have stopped Mahan Air flights, the UAE has halted flights operated by Iranian airlines, while major banks in Türkiye and the UAE have stopped transactions involving Iran. These are US descriptions of the measures and their connection to Washington’s campaign.
The dispute follows US President Donald Trump’s call at the United Nations General Assembly for Iran’s “complete economic isolation.” Reuters reported that Trump urged other countries to increase pressure on Tehran while saying he expected a diplomatic agreement could eventually be reached.
Iran, however, has continued to argue for maintaining international trade and economic relations while rejecting Washington’s sanctions strategy. The economic confrontation is unfolding alongside broader tensions involving the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to find a negotiated settlement between Tehran and Washington.
The two sides therefore remain sharply divided: Washington says increased economic pressure can change Tehran’s behaviour, while Iranian officials argue that countries should resist US pressure and make their own decisions about relations with Iran.
