Tehran, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Iran has sharply criticised the United States’ latest economic pressure campaign, with Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi accusing Washington of portraying its next setback as an “economic war”.
Gharibabadi said the US claim that Iran was nearing collapse contrasted with Washington’s efforts to seek support from its allies. In a post on social media, he argued that the US military campaign had failed to achieve its objectives and that the latest economic measures represented an attempt to mask that outcome.
“[To] cover up its failure, the United States has to create an even bigger failure,” Gharibabadi said, adding that Washington was now describing its next defeat as an economic war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi also criticised the US measures, warning that what he called American “economic terrorism” posed a threat to the global economy and the sovereignty of countries.
His remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of what he described as the “most crushing economic operation ever taken” against countries providing support to Iran. Trump said the campaign would amount to “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale” and called it an “economic D-Day”.
Araghchi responded that the announcement was intended to divert attention from what he described as Washington’s own economic difficulties, including unprecedented debt and rising interest costs. He warned that continuing with what he called failed policies would lead to further setbacks and increase hostility among Iranians.
Trump has meanwhile threatened Tehran with what he described as “very Draconian sanctions”. Asked about possible new measures against Iran at the White House, he said the US had significant options available.
The US President also sought to play down the future importance of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that increased American energy production and alternative supply routes had reduced global dependence on the strategic waterway.
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