Iran warns of ‘more painful’ response to U.S. attacks as economic pressure mounts

A woman crosses as motorists drive past an anti-U.S. billboard at Enghelab Square in Tehran on Sept. 2, 2026.Atta Kenare | Afp | Getty ImagesIran's "proportionate responses" to U.S. attacks are over, the country's parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday, while acknowledging the economic impact of the war."If they haven't understood by now, they should understand before it's too late that the rules of the game have changed and that from now on, any violation of Iran's interests and security will receive a 'faster, heavier, and more painful' response," Ghalibaf said in a post on Telegram.But Ghalibaf added that alongside the military conflict, Iran faces severe economic pressures."Severe fluctuations in the exchange rate, inflation, unemployment, and market management are fundamental challenges that have put serious pressure on people's livelihoods," Ghalibaf said. He also stressed the need to rely more on domestic production and use technology to "devise short-term and permanent solutions."Ghalibaf's remarks come after U.S. forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers. U.S. Central Command said it permanently disabled one crude oil carrier off th...