Iran demands US compensate for sanctions 'economic terrorism'

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday demanded that the United States provide full compensation for damages caused by years of unilateral sanctions, describing Washington's campaign as "economic terrorism" carried out through unlawful coercive measures.

In a formal message to the UN Security Council, Araghchi stated that the Islamic Republic reserves the right to pursue accountability through all available means under international law. "The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to resort to all available means to pursue accountability, compensation and redress, and to hold the perpetrators of these inhumane and unlawful acts accountable," he said, according to Iran's state broadcaster IRIB. He added that Washington faces full international responsibility and potential individual criminal liability for what he called unlawful acts harming the Iranian people.

Washington launches fresh sanctions wave

The demands came as the Trump administration intensified its economic pressure campaign against Tehran. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced "Operation Economic Outcast," a sweeping initiative targeting Iranian aviation, shipping, gold, technology and digital assets sectors with more than 60 new blacklisting designations. Bessent described the objective as the "economic asphyxiation" of the Iranian government, aiming to sever the country's economic lifelines entirely.

President Donald Trump last week vowed to impose what he called "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country," characterizing his maximum-pressure strategy as "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale." He warned that nations providing Tehran with economic lifelines through financial institutions, businesses or airports would face severe consequences. The new measures build upon existing sanctions that Araghchi said entail obligations for restitution and reparations under international legal frameworks.

Tehran urges UN action

Araghchi urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to assess and report on the humanitarian consequences of the sanctions, including impacts on civilian access to food, medicine, health care and transportation. He called on member states to refuse recognition or implementation of measures that link sovereign rights to policies unilaterally determined by Washington, and demanded the US "immediately halt threats and coercive actions aimed at forcing third countries to alter legitimate economic relations."

The diplomatic confrontation follows months of heightened tensions that erupted into open warfare in late February, when the US and Israel launched attacks against Iranian targets. A ceasefire agreement reached in April temporarily halted hostilities, and Washington and Tehran signed a June memorandum on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, though implementation stalled amid persistent differences before US strikes resumed last month.