Treasury Secretary Bessent rolls out sweeping secondary sanctions on Iran and its partners

Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, announced secondary sanctions that cover Iran's digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping sectors, and identified nearly 60 persons, entities and vessels alleged to support the country's war effort. The measures also target foreign companies, especially those in China, that maintain trade with Iran, signaling a test of how far the administration will pursue Beijing over Iranian oil purchases.

Columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher praised Bessent as the most capable official to wield this economic pressure, suggesting that isolating Iran's partners could erode the regime's financial base. She noted that the U.S. is gradually increasing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, reducing Iran's leverage there. Doescher concluded that without oil revenue, Iran's ability to fund its activities would collapse, potentially ending the regime.