Iran vows devastating reply to US sanctions push. Iran said on Friday that its response to any new US threats would be "devastating" after Washington moved to impose the toughest financial penalties with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership.
President Trump's chief of staff told from President Donald Trump that he would give details on Monday of the planned sanctions, which follow a warning from US Treasury chief of "catastrophic" economic consequences against any country providing "any type of lifeline to Iran.
"The chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the Islamic Republic's reaction would be broad. "With preparedness across land, sea, air defence and cyberspace, Iran's armed forces are ready to respond to any US threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses," Abdollahi was quoted as saying by IRNA.Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Washington appeared to have concluded it could not prevail in its direct military confrontation. "We must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions as to what he said was economic, but we are also facing in neighbouring Iraq, accusing the US and Israel of resorting to what he said was economic, psychological and 'cognitive warfare.
'"But, speaking to Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople late on Friday, he said the strain on Iran's economy - "No matter how much military power we have, we have to be strong economically, and we don't have financial turnover, economic growth and national production," Ghalibaf said, according to IRNA.
Oil prices edged lower on Friday but were on track for a second weekly gain after rising on Thursday following the new US threats. "I'm not sure why oil has popped upon this news," said Ghalibaf.
Just seven commodity ships carrying about half the oil exported on Thursday, half the previous day's tally, data from ship-tracker showed.Brussels: NATO's top commander convened a videoconference earlier this week to facilitate possible contributions to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, his spokesperson told Reuters, adding that this is not a NATO mission.
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe hosted a meeting of interested Allies at the chief of defence level on Tuesday to facilitate their possible contributions to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for Alliance's top commander for the US Force General Alexus Grynkewich said on Friday.
To be clear, this is not a NATO mission. But given NATO's ability to facilitate in NATO's ability to bring together Allies and understand the capabilities they bring to bear, it makes sense for NATO to facilitate in this way," the spokesperson added.
14 years ago - 'Most crippling sanctions in history.' Failed. 8 years ago - 'Maximum pressure.' Failed. Today - 'Most crushing economic operation ever.' February carried about a fifth of the world. Different bullies, he posted. Abbas Araghchi was defiant in a post on X that referenced previous US efforts to apply economic pressure on Iran and make its point.