“U.S. to unveil ‘greatest financial offensive’ against Iran as Tehran threatens ship seizures,” CNBC, 8-23-26.

If Iran declares war on these countries, let’s see if they declare war in return.  “Iran official says support for new sanctions would be ‘act of war’,” AP, Politico, 8-23-26.  This is in response to the still undefined threat by the U.S. of an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare.  See “Iran official says support for new sanctions would be ‘act of war’,” AP, 8-23-26.

“Iran’s security chief sharpens warning to neighbors,” Politico, 8-23-26.  “The hard-line leader of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, issued his latest warning on X, with the comments quickly shared by Iranian state media. It came a day after Rezaei’s most extensive public comments since being named to the post this month. “If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” he had told the state broadcaster in an interview that aired late Saturday. He said Iran would target other oil-shipping routes from the Persian Gulf — alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei, a former Revolutionary Guard commander and military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was part of senior appointments widely seen as hardening Tehran’s political and military stance.”  Reminder, we have yet to see the new Ayatollah.

“Iranian president wants to move past ‘neither war nor peace’,” AP, 8-23-26.  “Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier Sunday said the memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June was the best way to move beyond a situation of “neither war nor peace,” adding that Tehran can’t attract investment nearly six months after the war began. “There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian said in a speech published by state-run IRNA. “The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.” The interim deal opened a 60-day period for talks aimed at ending the war and reaching an accord on Iran’s nuclear program. That period ended last week with no signs of compromise or extension.”