Updated

The Trump administration has imposed sweeping new sanctions on Iran, described as an 'economic D-Day' aimed at pressuring Tehran's government, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claiming the US had 'guided 130 million barrels' of oil out of Iranian trade over two weeks against 'zero' for Iran. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Bessent's claims as false, calling him a 'liar' and citing economist Paul Krugman's criticism of the figures. China also denounced the new US sanctions on Iran and its trading partners as 'illegal,' noting Iran sells much of its oil to Beijing. Analysts note Iran has weathered US sanctions for decades and has built deep economic ties with countries like China, with Tehran's leadership betting it can again survive the pressure rather than see the sanctions topple the regime as Washington hopes.