US will strike Iran if Tehran responds to sanctions with military escalation — secretary

WASHINGTON, August 24. /TASS/. The United States will respond rapidly to any Iranian attack if the Islamic Republic reacts to Washington’s promised "unprecedented sanctions" with military escalation, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote in an article for the Financial Times (FT). Bessent said that US President Donald Trump would respond swiftly and decisively if Iran took military action against US troops or its neighbors in the Persian Gulf as the regime’s power weakened along with its economy. He also said that the US goal at this stage is to completely isolate Iran economically. Earlier, Bessent wrote on his X page that the US plans to launch a "financial offensive" against Iran on Monday. Trump had previously announced the start of an "economic warfare and isolation" against Iran on an unprecedented scale. The US president also warned that countries whose financial institutions, businesses, airports or government agencies support Tehran would face severe economic consequences from the United States. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in response that the US sanctions policy toward Iran is economic terrorism and a crime against humanity. The ministry added that the US administration, the sanctions planners and their enforcers must face appropriate punishment.