Iran has threatened retaliatory measures against what it describes as escalating US economic pressure, including possible attacks on Gulf oil and energy infrastructure and disruption of oil routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday in Washington, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a plan to target networks Iranian entities allegedly use to evade sanctions, including commercial partners in digital assets, technology and shipping.

Iranian officials said countries assisting US or Israeli military actions could be treated as participants in aggression. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei cited flights by US energy-supply aircraft from Bulgaria and said Iran considers itself entitled to strike the source of aggressive acts. Mohsen Rezaei, a leader of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said continued economic warfare would prevent oil exports through any Persian Gulf route.

Tehran has published a list of 45 oil tankers it says do not comply with its Hormuz rules and warned of fines, detention or seizure. Iranian lawmakers are discussing a bill on leaving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Rezaei raised the possibility of pursuing nuclear weapons. Experts cited in the report said Tehran may combine economic adaptation with deterrence.