Iran slams new US sanctions, calls them 'unlawful economic warfare'

Iran slammed new US sanctions as arbitrary, unlawful 'economic warfare', and a violation of the UN Charter. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the move asserts extraterritorial sovereignty and is an internationally wrongful act.

Iran on Saturday slammed the latest economic sanctions announced by the United States, calling them arbitrary and saying they have no basis in international law and violate the principle of sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter. The remarks were made by Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a post on X on Saturday.

Sanctions 'Unlawful Economic Warfare': Iran

"The United States' declaration of new economic sanctions on Iran is far more than continued unlawful 'economic warfare' against a single country. It is an assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent Member State of the United Nations," Baqaei said.

He said no country can lawfully compel foreign banks, enterprises or airports, which are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of their respective sovereign states, to halt lawful commerce with a third country.

"Such secondary sanctions find no foundation in international law. They violate the principle of sovereign equality enshrined in Article 2(1) of the UN Charter and breach the customary prohibition on intervention affirmed by the International Court of Justice in the Nicaragua case," he said.

Baqaei further alleged that economic coercion aimed at forcing a sovereign state to alter its lawful policy choices amounts to an internationally wrongful act.

"When combined with a naval blockade amounting to military aggression, these demands reduce the sovereignty of all other States to something provisional, conditional, and revocable at the whim of another power," he said.

He added that compliance with such sanctions does not guarantee immunity or respect, but instead means accepting that banks, enterprises and airports operate "only under a foreign licence."

"The end result would be the complete erosion of sovereignty as the foundational basis of the UN-based inter-State system, and a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism," Baqaei said.

The United States’ declaration of new economic sanctions on Iran is far more than continued unlawful “economic warfare” against a single country. It is an assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty over every independent Member State of the United Nations. No State may lawfully… — Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) August 22, 2026

US Announces 'Crushing' Measures

His remarks come after Washington announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iran, amid continued tensions between the two countries and broader instability in West Asia.

Trump recently announced what he called the "most crushing economic operation ever taken" against Iran and warned countries providing financial, business or government support to Tehran of "tremendous economic consequences".

The US President said the measures would target Iran's economic lifelines, including oil smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies. He also called the campaign an "Economic D-Day" and urged American allies to join Washington in isolating Iran. (ANI)

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