Iran vows 'will not submit' as US readies sanctions and Hormuz remains volatile

As the US prepares new, unprecedented sanctions on Iran, Tehran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei vows the country will not submit and even hints at shutting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz; Iran is selectively permitting Iraqi tankers to pass while Hormuz shipping remains about 20% of pre-war levels, with US Navy escorting traffic and US gas prices near $4.11 per gallon, up almost $1 from a year ago. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to announce the measures, and global reactions—from China to Gulf partners—underscore the broader geopolitical contest around Iran's oil routes.