US warns allies to join Iran coalition or face consequences; Tehran calls threat a ‘diversion’

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced plans to isolate Iran's economy through targeted measures to be revealed on Monday, saying the new actions could reduce the need for further military action. Bessent warned US allies: "You're either with us or against us," saying Washington would use its "full might and force" against countries doing business with Iran. Tehran dismissed the threats, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calling the so-called "economic D-Day" a "diversion from America's own crisis." In an interview with Al Jazeera, Professor Mostafa Khoshcheshm of the University of Applied Sciences and Technology in Tehran said US economic pressure would not work, noting that similar sanctions have been imposed for 15-16 years. He said Bessent had offered only "vague words" without specifying new sanctions laws, sectors or entities, and argued that "threatening is Donald Trump's method." Khoshcheshm also said Iran's extensive land borders and regional trade links would make an effective blockade difficult to impose. Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett reports from Washington, DC. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #DonaldTrump #Iran #UnitedStates #TrumpIranThreat #IranWar #StraitOfHormuz #HormuzCrisis #WarOnIran #USEconomicOperationAgainstIran #USIranAttacks #IranSanctions #USNavalBlockadOnIran