Bessent Vows Iran's Greatest Economic Isolation, Risking China Blowback
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Aug 19
Bessent Vows Iran's Greatest Economic Isolation, Risking China Blowback
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Aug 19
Summary
Scott Bessent said the US will pursue the “greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world” against Iran by targeting countries and companies that do business with Tehran.
The Treasury secretary framed the campaign in stark terms — “you are either with us, or against us” — signaling broader use of secondary sanctions as Washington escalates pressure after its 60-day deal window expired.
China is the clearest potential flashpoint because tougher enforcement on Iran’s economic partners could hit buyers of Iranian oil and trigger wider diplomatic and trade friction with Beijing.
The threat builds on Trump’s renewed maximum-pressure push, which earlier reports said came as Iran’s oil loadings fell below 500,000 barrels a day and consumer prices jumped 87.9% in July.