Iran vows retaliation after U.S. widens sanctions, fueling fears of escalated war

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has vowed to retaliate against to widened U.S. sanctions, saying Washington should “expect an attack” in response to the measures.

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has vowed to retaliate against to widened U.S. sanctions, saying Washington should “expect an attack” in response to the measures.

“We know how to play the game too,” Iran’s Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said in an interview televised by state media late Monday as he condemned the U.S. measures an “economic terrorist attack.”

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Iran since 1979 after Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran, taking U.S. diplomats hostage.

Madanizadeh added that at least two nations — China and Russia — have so far given no indication that they plan to fall into line. At a news conference Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing was firmly opposed to “illegal unilateral sanctions,” according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency.

“They should not think that our response will be defensive and that we will only defend ourselves,” Madanizadeh warned, adding: “They should expect an attack from our side as well.”