Washington dc: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has cautioned nations that continue to support Iran, stating that they will become targets of US efforts to isolate Tehran from the international economy. Bessent added that US President Donald Trump is actively urging global leaders to cease trade activities with Iran.
According to TRTworld.com, Bessent announced new sanctions on Iran on Monday, focusing on the country's digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping sectors. This move marks an escalation in the Trump administration's pressure on Tehran to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing conflict and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Bessent highlighted the various ways nations have been enabling Iran, such as purchasing and transporting its petroleum, facilitating financial flows, and maintaining registries on Iran's behalf. He emphasized that countries have a set timeline to cease these activities, warning that the US will act unilaterally through Treasury authorities if necessary.
President Trump has been directly contacting world leaders, making specific requests to halt their dealings with Iran. Bessent noted that there have already been some results over the weekend.
He further stated that countries aligning with the US will benefit from the partnership, while those supporting Iran should expect similar isolation as the Iranian regime. US Treasury, State Department, and military delegations are engaging with international counterparts to prompt decisive action.
Bessent warned that entities involved in money laundering for Iran will lose access to the US dollar system, signaling heightened pressure on Tehran amid ongoing conflict. The impact of this announcement depends on whether Iran's key trading partners, such as China, perceive US warnings as credible.
When asked about targeting Chinese banks dealing with Iran, Bessent affirmed that no entity is beyond the reach of US sanctions. He stressed that any economic engagement with Iran will expose responsible parties to full American power.
While Bessent delivered his message in Washington, Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded on X, dismissing US threats and asserting that Iran's trading partners do not consider these statements seriously.
The US joined Israel in an attack on Iran on February 28, resulting in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other key figures, as well as hundreds of civilians. Iran retaliated by asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz and launching missile and drone attacks on US-allied Gulf Arab states. The ongoing conflict has led to thousands of Iranian fatalities and confirmed US casualties, including 18 deaths and 756 injuries among its personnel.