Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Aug 29: Iran has warned neighbouring countries to exercise caution in dealing with the latest US sanctions campaign against Tehran, with an Iranian security official cautioning that countries supporting Washington's economic pressure could face retaliation.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, had earlier warned that countries joining what Tehran describes as a US "economic war" would be treated as enemies and that Iran could target their interests.

Commenting on Rezaei's remarks, Sultan Barakat, Professor of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said the warning should not necessarily be interpreted as an attempt to deter countries militarily. Instead, he said, Tehran was warning neighbouring nations to be cautious about how they respond to the new round of US economic sanctions.

Barakat noted that Iran is surrounded by numerous neighbouring countries, either through direct land borders or the Caspian Sea, and maintains relationships with many of them. Some of these countries, he said, may refuse to follow Washington's sanctions campaign and could seek ways to maintain economic ties with Iran.

The comments come after US President Donald Trump announced a major new sanctions campaign aimed at intensifying economic pressure on Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent subsequently announced sanctions targeting nearly 60 Iranian and foreign individuals and entities linked to Iran's oil revenues, weapons procurement and cyberoperations.

Rezaei has warned that Iran would initially seek negotiations with countries supporting the US measures but could take action against their interests if they refused to distance themselves from Washington.

Barakat said Iran would not be able to afford an economic confrontation with every neighbouring country, while also suggesting that the US sanctions could have unintended consequences for Washington.

His comments come amid continuing economic and geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran, the United States and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has faced increasingly severe economic pressure as Washington seeks to restrict its oil revenues and isolate the country from the global economy.

The latest developments have also raised concerns about the potential impact of the sanctions on regional trade and countries that maintain economic links with Tehran.