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, Reuters reported.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, ‌who is due to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran.

Iran’s economy is already under huge pressure from international sanctions, its infrastructure has been hit repeatedly and thousands of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Islamic Republic since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks ​on February 28.

But Tehran remains defiant after nearly six months of war and has brought shipping to a virtual standstill in the Strait of ​Hormuz, refusing to allow unauthorized oil tankers to transit a waterway that is vital for global oil shipments. The effective ⁠blockade of the strait has pushed up global oil prices.

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% of Iran’s shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. China ​has urged diplomacy.

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 U.S. threat of new sanctions.

Trump said on Friday that Washington was observing “what happens” in the conflict, read the report.

“They would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion,” Trump said of Iran.

US attacks have severely diminished Iran’s economy and devastated its navy and air force, but Tehran maintains enough missile and ​drone capability to impede oil tanker ​traffic and attack regional rivals.

Iranian Parliament ⁠speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Saturday that Tehran had received “numerous messages” from neighbouring countries about establishing new regional security arrangements and economic cooperation.

Qalibaf did not say which countries he was referring to. He accused the US of endangering ​the security of its allies in the region for the sake of Israel, adding that an independent, “homegrown” regional order ​would deliver peace and ⁠security.

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 U.N. 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 emphasizes 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 on Friday.

Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir will visit Tehran on Monday to continue efforts to bring peace ​and security to the region, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil ‌Baghaei said on Sunday, according to a statement by the ministry.

Pakistan has taken on a mediator role in negotiations between Iran and the U.S. aimed ​at ending the war which began with U.S. and ​Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

Two Pakistani government sources confirmed ⁠Munir’s visit to Reuters. The first source said that Iran ​and Pakistan were in direct contact.

A second source said the talks ​would also address recent developments in the conflict, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of tougher sanctions on Iran.

“He (Munir) will discuss peace under Islamabad’s MoU, Trump’s ​warning and the situation after the Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Arab Agreement and Houthi ​issues with Iranian leaders,” the source said.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions as ‌Iran threatens ⁠a military response to U.S. plans for sanctions that could further put a strain on the Islamic Republic’s ailing economy.

It will coincide with a Monday announcement on details related to the planned sanctions which ​U.S. officials have ​said would be “the ⁠toughest sanctions in history” on Iran.

Trump had warned of economic consequences against any country that provided “any type ​of lifeline to Iran” as he seeks to isolate ​the ⁠Islamic Republic.

Oil shipments are at a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran threatening to strike any unauthorized oil tankers that ⁠try to ​transit the vital waterway, and Iran’s ​economy is already under immense pressure from sanctions.

Iran has granted permission for a number ​of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the ‌Strait of Hormuz following repeated requests from Baghdad through various channels, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.

IRNA ​said obtaining special permission for Iraqi tankers was ​one of Baghdad’s main requests during Iranian ⁠parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s visit to Iraq.

Iraqi ​President Nizar Amedi said on Saturday that Iran had facilitated ​the passage of vessels carrying Iraqi oil through the Strait in recent days and Baghdad had discussed the export of ​Iraqi oil through Hormuz with Iranian officials.

The issue ​remained complicated, he added, speaking at the Baghdad Dialogue policy conference.

Iraq ‌has ⁠been among the countries most affected by Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic in the strait remains significantly below pre-war levels and ​ships continue to ​face attacks ⁠in the area.

Iraq produced around 4 million barrels of oil per day before ​the outbreak of the Iran war.

Baghdad is ​working to ⁠expand its exports through Turkey’s Ceyhan port and also to begin exporting oil through Syria’s Baniyas port ⁠and Jordan’s ​Aqaba port, Prime Minister Ali ​al-Zaidi said on Friday.