US National Security Advisor John Bolton vowed to “squeeze” Iran “until the pips squeak”, a week after a new round of sanctions came into force.

Speaking in Singapore ahead of a summit on Tuesday, Bolton said, “We think the (Iranian) government is under real pressure and it’s our intention to squeeze them very hard.”

“As the British say, squeeze them until the pips squeak.”

“We are also going to significantly increase the enforcement of sanctions,” he added, France 24 reported.

In a recent interview with the BBC, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in similar remarks had said that Iranian officials must listen to Washington “if they want their people to eat.”

The sanctions have been opposed by other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers– Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia — who have vowed to keep the accord alive.

UN inspectors say Iran is abiding by the agreement.

The only support for the US position has come from Iran’s regional rivals, notably Saudi Arabia and ‘Israel’.

Source: Iranian media