CAIRO/WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic’s economy and have an impact ​on its most important trading partners including China.

After nearly six months of war since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on 28th February, the sides are not ‌firing at each other but also showing no sign of pursuing peace talks.

Oil shipments are at a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran threatening to strike any unauthorised oil tankers that try to transit the vital waterway, and Iran’s economy is already under immense pressure from sanctions.