TEHRAN-(MaraviPost)-Iran has rejected a new US sanctions campaign announced by President Donald Trump as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify, with uncertainty growing over shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The developments were reported by Al Jazeera in its live coverage of the Iran war on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
The report said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had dismissed the proposed economic measures and warned that Washington’s strategy would fail.
Mr. Trump announced what he described as a major new economic operation against Iran after negotiations between the two countries failed to produce an agreement.
He also warned countries dealing with Tehran that they could face severe financial consequences.
Iranian officials have described the latest US measures as an extension of the conflict rather than a pathway towards negotiations.
The report said Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi viewed Washington as heading towards another failure after its military campaign failed to achieve its objectives.
The confrontation is also affecting one of the world’s most important energy and shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of competing claims between Iran and the United States.
Washington says maritime traffic remains possible, while Tehran has maintained restrictions on vessels that do not obtain Iranian approval.
The United States has also imposed a naval blockade targeting ships linked to Iran.
The economic consequences could extend well beyond the two countries.
The waterway is a major route for global energy shipments, meaning prolonged disruption could affect oil supplies, transportation costs and international energy markets.
According to the report, shipping data showed that oil movements through the strait increased substantially during a 60-day memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.
Kpler estimated that about 374 million barrels of oil, equivalent to roughly 6.1 million barrels a day, left the Gulf during that period.
The United States has already imposed sanctions targeting several areas of Iran’s economy, including oil exports, financial networks, cryptocurrency activity, weapons procurement and groups aligned with Tehran.
The report said analysts had cautioned that enforcing the new measures could prove difficult because Washington would need cooperation from major trading powers, including China and Russia, to achieve broad international compliance.
For Iran, decades of experience under sanctions could provide some resilience.
However, tighter restrictions on energy exports, banking and international trade could still increase pressure on the Iranian economy.
The dispute presents a difficult calculation for both sides.
Washington is seeking to use economic pressure to weaken Tehran’s ability to sustain the conflict, while Iran is attempting to demonstrate that it can withstand sanctions without conceding to US demands.
For global markets, the main concern is whether the confrontation will significantly restrict energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Any sustained disruption could turn the geopolitical confrontation into a broader international economic shock.
