Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran’s response focused on what it described as Iran’s “legitimate rights” rather than demands for concessions from Washington.

“We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights,” Baqaei told reporters during a weekly press briefing in Tehran.
According to Baqaei, Iran’s position included calls for “an end to the war in the region,” the lifting of what he described as a U.S. naval blockade and the release of Iranian assets frozen in foreign financial institutions for several years.

Iran has long sought access to billions of dollars in overseas funds restricted under U.S. sanctions, which were intensified after Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement during President Donald Trump’s first administration.

The latest comments come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, where regional conflicts involving Israel, Iran-aligned groups and U.S. forces have increased diplomatic pressure on Washington and Tehran to prevent wider escalation.

Iranian officials have repeatedly linked broader regional stability to the easing of sanctions and the normalization of economic access, while U.S. officials have maintained pressure over Tehran’s nuclear activities and support for armed groups in the region.

Baqaei did not provide further details about the contents of the U.S. proposal or indicate whether negotiations between the two sides were ongoing.

The remarks come as indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington continue against the backdrop of military tensions stretching from Gaza and Lebanon to the Red Sea and Gulf waters.

The sanctions target what U.S. officials described as a procurement network supporting Iran’s defense sector amid continuing regional tensions and stalled diplomatic efforts tied to the conflict involving Tehran and its regional allies.

The Treasury Department said the measures were aimed at entities and individuals allegedly involved in facilitating the acquisition of sensitive materials and technology for Iran’s military-industrial apparatus, including components linked to the production of Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles.

The action comes days before U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to travel to China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, at a time when negotiations tied to the broader Iran conflict have shown little progress.

“Under Trump’s decisive leadership, we will continue to act to Keep America Safe and target foreign individuals and companies providing Iran’s military with weapons for use against U.S. forces,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

The Treasury did not immediately disclose the full list of sanctioned parties in the initial announcement, but said several of the targeted entities operated from China and Hong Kong and were involved in supplying materials tied to Iran’s drone manufacturing capabilities.

Iran’s Shahed drones have become a central component of the country’s military strategy and have drawn international scrutiny over their deployment across regional conflicts. Western governments have repeatedly accused Tehran of expanding its drone production and export networks despite existing sanctions regimes.

The latest measures freeze any U.S.-based assets belonging to the designated parties and generally prohibit Americans from conducting business with them. Secondary sanctions risks may also apply to foreign financial institutions engaging with sanctioned entities.

Washington has steadily expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s defense procurement channels since the outbreak of heightened regional hostilities, focusing increasingly on overseas intermediaries and companies accused of supplying dual-use technology and industrial materials.

The U.S. Treasury Department said Iraqi Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly used his government position to help divert oil revenues to the Iranian government and affiliated militias.In a statement, the Treasury alleged Al-Bahadly facilitated the sale of oil “for the benefit of the Iranian regime and its proxy militias in Iraq.”

Iraq’s oil ministry and Al-Bahadly did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The sanctions were announced as Washington and Iran moved closer to a temporary arrangement aimed at halting ongoing hostilities, although key disputes between the two sides remain unresolved.

The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on three senior leaders linked to the Iran-backed militias Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, groups Washington has previously accused of threatening U.S. interests and regional stability.

“Treasury will not stand idly by as Iran’s military exploits Iraqi oil to fund terrorism against the United States and our partners,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.Under U.S. sanctions rules, any assets held in the United States by the designated individuals are frozen, while U.S. citizens and entities are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with them.

The move follows comments in March by Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani, who said Iranian oil tankers intercepted by U.S. forces in the Gulf had been operating with forged Iraqi documentation. Tehran denied those allegations.

The sanctions underscore Washington’s continuing efforts to curb Iran’s regional financial networks while maintaining parallel diplomatic contacts over de-escalation efforts in the wider Middle East conflict.

The Treasury Department said Iraqi Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly abused his official position to enable the sale of oil for the benefit of the Iranian government and affiliated militias in Iraq.In a statement, Treasury accused Al-Bahadly of helping divert Iraqi oil revenues to support “the Iranian regime and its proxy militias in Iraq.” Iraq’s oil ministry and the deputy minister did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The sanctions were announced as Washington and Iran moved closer to a temporary arrangement aimed at halting hostilities, with Tehran reviewing a proposal that could pause the conflict while leaving major disputes unresolved.The U.S. Treasury also imposed sanctions on three senior figures associated with the Iran-backed militias Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq.

“Treasury will not stand idly by as Iran’s military exploits Iraqi oil to fund terrorism against the United States and our partners,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.The sanctions freeze any assets held in the United States by those designated and generally prohibit U.S. individuals and companies from conducting business with them.

The measures follow remarks made in March by Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani, who said Iranian oil tankers intercepted by U.S. forces in the Gulf had been using forged Iraqi documents. Tehran denied the allegation.

The latest sanctions highlight Washington’s continued efforts to disrupt Iran’s regional financial and logistical networks while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic contacts aimed at containing wider conflict across the Middle East.

Even before the latest hostilities, analysts described Iran’s economy as deeply fragile, weighed down by sanctions, energy imbalances, inflation and declining exports. The impact of renewed strikes and the effective closure of Hormuz a critical artery for global energy shipments has sharply intensified those pressures.

The blockade threatens more than 90% of Iran’s annual trade, estimated at over $100 billion, according to analysts, cutting off vital oil exports that account for roughly 80% of government revenue. Estimates cited by experts suggest losses of around $435 million per day, potentially exceeding $13 billion monthly.

Energy infrastructure constraints are compounding the crisis. With limited storage capacity and continued production, Iran risks being forced to halt oil output within weeks, raising the possibility of long-term damage to oil fields and a permanent reduction in production capacity.

On the domestic front, economic indicators point to severe distress. The Iranian rial has sharply depreciated, while food inflation has surged into triple digits, eroding purchasing power and fueling social discontent.

Shortages of energy have also disrupted key industries such as steel, cement and petrochemicals.The blockade’s effects are further magnified by limited alternative trade routes. Infrastructure outside the Gulf, including overland corridors and non-Hormuz ports, can handle only a fraction of normal throughput, leaving Iran with few options to offset lost maritime access.

Internal divisions are also emerging over the management of foreign currency revenues and economic policy, with some officials warning that significant portions of export earnings are not reaching state coffers.

Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called for compromise, urging Tehran to consider limiting its nuclear program and reopening Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief to prevent further economic deterioration.Analysts say the government’s response is driven less by economic logic than by strategic considerations.

Sanam Vakil of Chatham House said the conflict is viewed by Iran’s leadership as existential, limiting the likelihood of policy shifts despite economic strain.The longer-term outlook remains uncertain.

Researchers at Royal United Services Institute warn that postwar recovery could be hampered by damaged infrastructure, reduced access to regional financial networks and strained ties with Gulf partners, particularly the United Arab Emirates, a key trade hub for Iran.

With reconstruction costs expected to be substantial and trade channels constrained, the economic consequences of the conflict may prove more enduring than the military phase itself.

Speaking in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Díaz-Canel said an invasion or targeted operation against Cuba would come at a high cost and trigger a strong defensive response from the island’s population.

He added that Cubans would be prepared to fight if necessary.His remarks come amid heightened tensions with United States under President Donald Trump, despite both sides acknowledging ongoing contacts aimed at addressing bilateral disputes.

Díaz-Canel accused Washington of pursuing a “hostile policy” toward Cuba and said the United States had “no moral” authority to demand political changes from Havana, while reiterating Cuba’s willingness to engage in dialogue without preconditions.

The Cuban leader linked the island’s worsening economic conditions to U.S. measures, including restrictions that have disrupted energy supplies and exacerbated shortages affecting transport, healthcare and industrial output.

Cuba produces roughly 40 percent of its fuel needs and has faced acute shortages following disruptions to oil shipments, including from Venezuela earlier this year, contributing to a deepening energy crisis.

Díaz-Canel said recent statements from Trump, including suggestions that Cuba could be targeted next, were taken by Havana as a warning, reinforcing the government’s focus on safeguarding national sovereignty and stability.

The move, reflected in an update by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, effectively removes restrictions that had limited Rodríguez’s ability to engage with U.S. companies and investors, and underscores Washington’s recognition of her as a legitimate governing authority.

Rodríguez said the decision could open a path toward improved bilateral relations. In a statement posted on her Telegram channel, she described the move as a step toward “normalizing and strengthening relations” and expressed hope that broader sanctions on Venezuela would eventually be lifted to enable deeper cooperation.

The policy change follows the Jan. 3 capture of Maduro and his wife in Caracas by U.S. forces. Both were transferred to New York to face drug trafficking charges and have pleaded not guilty.

Their detention prompted a political transition in which Venezuela’s ruling-party-aligned Supreme Court declared Maduro’s absence temporary and installed Rodríguez as acting president.

Rodríguez, who had previously been sanctioned by Washington during Donald Trump’s first administration, was among senior Venezuelan officials targeted in 2018 for their alleged role in undermining democratic processes after a widely disputed election. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, and other members of Maduro’s inner circle were also designated at the time.

Despite those earlier measures, the current administration has opted to engage directly with Rodríguez following Maduro’s removal. U.S. officials have backed her role in implementing a phased plan to stabilize the country’s political and economic system, including outreach to foreign investors and commitments to increased transparency and international arbitration.

The administration has also taken broader steps to ease restrictions on Venezuela’s economy. In March, the Treasury authorized state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. to resume direct sales to U.S. buyers and access global markets, reversing years of tight sanctions on the country’s energy sector.

In parallel, U.S. authorities have formally recognized Rodríguez as the sole head of state in an ongoing civil case in federal court, further consolidating her standing in Washington’s policy framework.Maduro, however, remains Venezuela’s legal president under the country’s institutional structure.

The Supreme Court’s ruling allows Rodríguez to govern for an initial 90-day period, which is set to expire Friday, with a possible extension to six months subject to approval by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party and led by her brother.

The developments highlight an evolving U.S. approach toward Venezuela, balancing legal proceedings against Maduro with pragmatic engagement aimed at restoring economic activity and political stability in the oil-rich nation.