Iran Warns US to Respect Its People or Face Consequences Amid Trump’s Sanctions

Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, issued a stern warning to the United States on Monday in response to President Donald Trump’s recent statements about Iran’s ballistic missile program and sanctions. Zolqadr said, "Speak to the Iranian people with respect, or we will respond in a different language," signaling Tehran’s readiness to escalate tensions if provoked.

Earlier the same day, Trump claimed that the U.S. Navy had imposed the largest blockade the world has seen on Iran, preventing any ship from breaching it. He emphasized that the U.S. is not transferring any funds to Iran and does not seek regime change. Trump also threatened to cripple Iran’s energy supply and destroy its major energy facilities, stating, "Whether Iran signs a deal or not, we win either way." He added that he does not want to harm Iran’s 91 million citizens but insisted that Iran must comply with the concessions it has made, including handing over its enriched uranium stockpile.

In a related development, a Washington Post report from two days earlier revealed that despite U.S. public opposition, Iran and Oman are advancing a plan to charge fees to ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This proposal, reportedly submitted by Oman to the U.S. and other Western countries, would require shipping companies to pay service fees for transit. A U.S. official confirmed that Washington’s negotiating team received the proposal but has reservations it plans to discuss with Omani officials during ongoing talks.

These exchanges underscore the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with diplomatic negotiations continuing amid threats and strategic maneuvers in the Gulf region.