US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has declared that Washington intends to impose the toughest sanctions in history with the aim of triggering the collapse of the Iranian government, while urging other nations, including China, to support the campaign. China has criticised the US president’s “economic D-Day” push against Iran, warning that additional sanctions will fail to resolve ongoing disputes.
Iran's Foreign Ministry has condemned the US threat of new economic sanctions, describing the proposed measures as “illegal and inhumane”.
There is also the possibility that Bessent could impose sanctions on entities, airports, or anyone conducting business with Iran. US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent strongly encouraged US allies to join Washington’s coalition against Iran in a not-so-thinly veiled threat.
“You’re either with us or you are against us,” Bessent said, addressing US allies in the region.
Bessent also pointed to what he called US success with past economic campaigns, comparisons Trump has likened to economic warfare against countries such as Cuba and Venezuela.
Asked how long the standoff with Iran could last, Bessent had no answer, implying that it could be open-ended.
The only thing he was certain of was that the goal is to ensure “the economic collapse of the Iranian government".
Meanwhile, US Central Command says its forces have redirected 67 merchant ships, disabled three, and boarded two others travelling to or from Iranian ports while enforcing a revived naval blockade.
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