Iran warns any country joining US sanctions will be considered an 'enemy'

Iran warned on Saturday that any country joining United States sanctions against Tehran would be treated as an enemy.

Mohsen Rezai, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, issued the threat on state television as Washington pressures allies to isolate the Iranian economy nearly six months into the US-Iran war.

What did Iran say about countries joining US sanctions?

Rezai said any nation that takes part in the sanctions campaign will be regarded as an enemy of Iran. He called on all countries to reject Washington's economic pressure, warning that nations refusing to distance themselves from the US would face consequences to their interests in the region.

"We declare to all countries, do not join the economic war waged by the United States," Rezai said. "Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy," he added. Countries that refused to distance themselves from Washington would see their interests harmed, he said.

How has Iran threatened to retaliate against sanctions?

Rezai said Iran still has more options in its confrontation with the United States. He noted that Iran has so far only struck military targets and has not attacked American economic interests. If Washington imposes further sanctions, he warned that Iran would target US oil and economic companies operating around Iran and elsewhere.

Rezai said any further action from Trump would trigger a response he described as an earthquake. The remark underlined Tehran's warning that retaliation could move beyond the battlefield into economic targets linked to Washington.

Which countries has the US pressured to join sanctions on Iran?

Washington has urged its allies to help isolate Iran's economy, including Beijing, one of Tehran's top strategic partners. China has criticised the sanctions push, arguing that it will not resolve the wider conflict in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates, one of Iran's major trading partners, announced on Tuesday that it was suspending all trade and financial transactions with Tehran until further notice.