Iran urges countries not to implement new U.S. sanctions as mediators focus on reopening strait - Reuters

**Iran Calls on Nations to Resist New U.S. Sanctions While Diplomats Push for Strait of Hormuz Reopening** *Reuters – 28 August 2026*

Tehran has issued an urgent appeal to the international community, asking countries not to enforce a fresh wave of U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian entities and individuals. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, in a statement released Monday, described the sanctions as “counter‑productive and destabilising” and warned they could further strain global energy supplies. The plea coincides with intensified diplomatic efforts by a coalition of European, Asian and Gulf mediators who are concentrating on a pragmatic solution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes.

The U.S. Treasury Department has recently expanded its punitive measures, adding a United Arab Emirates branch of an Egyptian bank to its sanctions list for alleged facilitation of Iranian financial flows. This move builds on a broader American strategy, first articulated under former President Donald Trump, that seeks to isolate Tehran economically while pressuring it to curb its regional activities. According to an Al Jazeera analysis, Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy is beginning to yield results six months after its implementation, as Tehran shows signs of seeking diplomatic engagement to avoid further economic hardship. However, Iranian officials argue that the latest sanctions undermine ongoing negotiations and could compel regional actors to adopt a more confrontational stance.

Oil markets have reacted with caution. Crude prices have held relatively steady but are trending toward weekly losses as traders monitor the “choppy” flow of shipments through Hormuz. Analysts cited by The Times of India note that the uncertainty surrounding the strait’s status, combined with the prospect of broader sanctions, is keeping the market on edge. Meanwhile, a recent walk‑through of Dubai’s commercial districts revealed no overt signs of disruption, suggesting that, for now, the emirate’s economy remains insulated from the heightened geopolitical tension. The convergence of diplomatic overtures and sanction pressures underscores the delicate balance between regional stability and the pursuit of U.S. foreign policy objectives.