Iran's foreign minister dismissed the threat of new US sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 pm EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran.
Describing what he said were "repetitive scenarios", Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a video posted on Telegram: "The fact that they (US leaders) have moved on from military operations ... to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate."
He said Washington must speak to Iran respectfully to find "a solution based on justice and honour."
"We have never been afraid. All of their actions - whether blockades or other military moves they have made - have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well," he said.
US President Donald Trump has warned of economic consequences against any country that provides "any type of lifeline to Iran" and Bessent has urged cooperation with Washington by China, which buys more than 80 per cent of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. China has urged diplomacy.
PAKISTAN'S ARMY CHIEF TO VISIT TEHRAN
Iran said Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, would visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the region, but gave few details.
Pakistan has been mediating in the conflict and a Pakistani government source said Munir would touch on recent developments including the US threat of new sanctions.
Trump said on Friday that Washington was observing "what happens" in the conflict.
"They would love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion," Trump said of Iran.
Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that Tehran had received "numerous messages" from neighbouring countries about establishing new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation.
Trump has yet to achieve objectives he set at the start of the war such as dismantling Iran's nuclear programme - the state of which remains uncertain given that UN inspectors have been shut out since 2025 - and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers.
While Iran remains defiant, President Masoud Pezeshkian has also called for a diplomatic solution. "It would be better to end the war today, when we are powerful and have dignity, and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasises that America, contrary to all regulations, attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure and is hated in the world," the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying. - Reuters
BOX STORY
Israeli strikes kill three, including a child
Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip killed three people on Sunday, including a child, rescuers said, while the Israeli military said it had targeted a "terrorist" in one strike.
An air strike killed two people in the town of Al Zawayda, including a four-year-old child named Muhammad Abdel Salam Taha, according to the civil defence rescue service, which operates under Hamas authority.
"The two martyrs as well as several wounded were taken to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah," also in the central Gaza, the civil defence said.
Another Israeli strike killed one person in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
The Israeli military said that it had "targeted a terrorist" in one of the strikes, and said it would provide further details later.
An October ceasefire has reduced but not halted violence in Gaza.
Israeli operations in Gaza have killed 1,286 people since the ceasefire came into effect, according to Gaza's health ministry, which also operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
The Israeli army has reported five deaths in its ranks over the same period, as well as one civilian contractor. — AFP
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