Iran Warns Countries Backing New US Sanctions, Threatens Strait of Hormuz Closure

Iran’s top security official warns that any country participating in the US-led “economic war” will be treated as an enemy, threatening “seismic” retaliation as Washington prepares to unveil the “largest financial offensive in history” and the Iranian rial plunges to a record low.

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran has issued a stark warning to nations considering participation in new United States economic sanctions, vowing retaliation against any country that backs Washington’s “economic war” against the Islamic Republic. The warning, issued by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, on Saturday, comes as the United States prepares to unveil what officials describe as the most severe economic measures in history against Iran. “We declare to all countries… do not join the economic war that the US is waging,” Rezaei said in a televised interview on state television. “Any country that participates in imposing sanctions on us will be considered an enemy”. He added that Iran would first seek to persuade such countries to distance themselves from Washington, but could subsequently target their interests if they refused. His appointment as security chief earlier this month is widely viewed as reflecting a harder political and military posture in Tehran.

Rezaei delivered a stark warning about the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes daily in peacetime. He stated that if Iran’s neighbours side with the United States in the economic campaign, “not a single drop of oil” will flow through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, including by alternative export routes. “If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf,” Rezaei said in a post on X. He also warned that Iran would consider any country participating in or supporting the US economic campaign against Tehran to be committing an “act of war”. The Strait of Hormuz had traditionally been regarded as an international waterway before the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, and it has remained a major flashpoint since. Iran is now reportedly in the final stages of agreeing with Oman on a plan for joint management of the waterway, which would include having ships enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route.

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The escalating sanctions dispute has already placed additional pressure on Iran’s economy, with the Iranian rial falling to a record low of more than 2 million per US dollar on Monday. The official central bank rate hovered near 1.5 million, while the currency has weakened over 7 per cent in under seven days from around 1.86 million per dollar last week. Iranians are feeling the pinch, with food prices rising sharply amid crushing inflation that is expected to reach 70 per cent this year, while the economy is projected to contract by more than 5 per cent. Since the war began, rice is up some 60%, and prices of beef are more than 150% higher.

The escalating tensions follow US President Donald Trump’s announcement of “devastating economic action” against Iran, warning that any country allowing its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide support to Iran would face severe economic consequences. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that he would hold a press conference on Monday to unveil the new measures, which he described as the “single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary”. In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, Bessent declared that “an economic D-Day operation is about to be launched—the largest financial offensive ever directed at an adversary”. The Treasury is expected to expand secondary sanctions targeting countries and companies that maintain business ties with Iran, potentially threatening exclusion from the US dollar-based global financial system. Targets are expected to include Iranian oil revenue networks, including Chinese independent refineries purchasing Iranian crude. Bessent explicitly said the goal is to collapse the current regime in Iran, issuing a stark ultimatum to the world: “you are either with us or against us”.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Sardar Mohebi announced that Iran has already formulated comprehensive plans to counter all forms of US hostility, including economic pressure. Mohebi stated that Iran would continue conducting economic activities “under America’s nose” and bypass US restrictions by engaging with other nations. He described Washington’s reliance on economic pressure as a tacit admission of what he called a “humiliating defeat” on the military front. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the threat of new sanctions as a sign of US “desperation,” posting on X: “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies”. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked the latest US sanctions threat using satire, posting a four-panel comic depicting a giant boomerang labelled “the most crushing economic operation ever” returning to strike the person who launched it.

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China, one of Iran’s biggest oil customers with over 80 per cent of Iran’s shipped oil going to Beijing in 2025, has already rejected Washington’s approach. A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington responded that “sanctions and pressure do not help resolve the problem” and called for diplomacy. Beijing has vowed to protect its legitimate interests as the US prepares to expand its sanctions campaign. The United Arab Emirates, once one of Tehran’s most important trading partners and a major re-export and financial hub for Iranian businesses, has recently suspended all trade with Iran. Trump had called the leader of the UAE the day before the announcement, and Tehran suspects the move may have been influenced by Washington’s pressure campaign. The suspension marks a significant setback for Tehran’s regional economic ties.

Rezaei described Iran’s strategy as a three-stage sequence, starting with talks with countries cooperating with the US to de-escalate tensions. “Of course, we will first negotiate with them. We will hold talks and tell them to step aside and distance themselves from the United States,” he said. “But if they do not act, we will strike. We will target that country’s interests”. Rezaei also warned that any fresh action by US President Donald Trump could trigger a much broader confrontation, saying: “Should Trump take action, our confrontation will be like an earthquake”. He claimed that Iran had not yet used its full range of options, adding: “So far, we have only targeted military bases, but if they want to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States has oil and economic companies around Iran and elsewhere, and we will strike them”.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed Bessent’s claims as internally contradictory, writing on X: “You say Iran’s military capability has been dismantled, 100% of its military factories destroyed and its nuclear programme buried, yet for this same Iran, the largest financial offensive in history and the mobilisation of all America’s institutions and authorities is needed. Is this a victory or an admission of American defeat?”. Iran’s Armed Forces chief of staff said Tehran was ready across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace to deliver “crushing, punishing and devastating responses”. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei warned that “any escalation of this situation will undoubtedly bring about consequences” and that “our hands are not tied”.

Hawk Fire in US Rages On, Burns 10,500 Acres in Nevada, Forces Mass Evacuations

A fast-moving wildfire in the western United States has exploded to over 10,500 acres near Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands to flee their homes as firefighters battle the blaze with zero containment.

RENO, Nevada, US – The Hawk Fire, a rapidly growing wildfire in the western United States, has expanded to cover more than 10,500 acres in Nevada as of late Saturday evening, with firefighters reporting zero containment and challenging conditions driven by gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. The blaze ignited around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, off the Hawk Meadow Trail near the Somersett community in the foothills of northwest Reno. By mid-afternoon, the fire had grown to approximately 2,500 to 3,000 acres. By 8:30 p.m. Saturday, mapping platform Perimeter Map reported the fire had expanded to at least 10,523 acres.

Approximately 400 personnel from local, state, and federal agencies are currently battling the blaze in the US state of Nevada, with ground crews and air resources deployed to contain the fire. The Nevada National Guard is supporting aerial firefighting operations, deploying one CH-47 Chinook and one UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew to assist with firefighting efforts. An additional 60 Nevada National Guard Response Force personnel have been called in to support local law enforcement in protecting evacuated neighbourhoods. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Richard Edwards described the situation as “a very dynamic incident” driven by the wind, noting that “wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas, creating a lot of challenges for our firefighters to save homes and protect lives.”

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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County as the Hawk Fire continues its rapid spread across the US state. “I have declared a state of emergency in Washoe County as we respond to the Hawk Fire, which is spreading quickly and threatening homes and structures,” Lombardo said. “Please heed all warnings from local officials, evacuate immediately if you are ordered to do so, and do not put yourself or first responders at risk.” Under the declaration, all state agencies are directed to work through the Nevada Emergency Operations Center to supplement local response efforts. “This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials,” Lombardo continued. “The state is fully engaged, and we are working alongside local authorities and first responders to deploy every available resource to protect lives, safeguard communities, and keep Nevadans out of harm’s way.” Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve confirmed that structures have already been burned in the fire and urged residents to prioritise their safety. “Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building,” Schieve said in a message posted by the City of Reno on X.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has issued mandatory “Go Now” evacuation orders for several neighbourhoods as the fire continues to spread. Evacuations have expanded southward, affecting the Somersett community, including areas north of Somersett Parkway to Robb Drive, as well as neighborhoods in northwest Reno. Communities from Raleigh Heights to Red Rock on the west side of U.S. Highway 395 have been instructed to evacuate immediately. U.S. Highway 395 in Washoe County has been closed in both directions between Parr Boulevard and Red Rock Road due to the fire’s proximity. Rancho San Rafael Park has also been closed as the fire continues to spread. The fire has also prompted evacuation warnings in Sierra County, California, as authorities continue to monitor its movement toward the state line between Nevada and California.

An evacuation centre has been established at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, located at 4590 South Virginia Street, Reno. The Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, which initially served as an evacuation site, quickly reached maximum capacity, prompting the establishment of the secondary shelter at the convention center. Small animals can be taken to Washoe County Regional Animal Services on Longley Lane, while no evacuation centre is currently available for large animals.

The blaze has severely disrupted regional infrastructure, causing widespread power outages that impacted tens of thousands of utility customers across the US state. Emergency de-energization of transmission lines by NV Energy cut electricity to more than 37,000 customers in the Truckee and North Lake Tahoe region. The rapid advancement of the fire also forced the temporary closure of the ER at North Valleys, where healthcare workers scrambled to safely transfer patients to alternative regional facilities.

Significant resources have been mobilised to fight the fire, including air tankers and helicopters. Requests for Cal Fire support have been initiated, and “substantial resources” have been diverted from the nearly-contained Bug Fire to assist with the Hawk Fire. The Bug Fire, located just north of the Hawk Fire, was 94% contained as of Friday, while the nearby Stallion Fire was 98% contained as of Friday. Weather conditions remain challenging, with a Red Flag Warning extending across northern Washoe County toward the California and Oregon borders, increasing the risk of rapid fire growth and spot fires.