Iran strongly condemned on Saturday the new U.S. sanctions, calling them « unlawful economic warfare » and an « assertion of extraterritorial sovereignty » against all independent UN member states. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan to « crush » Iran’s economy could make a major military operation against the Islamic Republic unnecessary. President Donald Trump promised the « most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country, » with sanctions on any nation helping Tehran evade penalties. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains a fraction of normal levels since February 28, with negotiations to reopen the strait stalled. Oil prices edged higher Friday, with Brent crude closing at $94.39 per barrel and WTI at $87.06 per barrel.
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