U.S. Plans Expanded Economic Sanctions Against Iran
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to announce a major new sanctions campaign against Iran on Monday, describing the effort as an unprecedented attempt to isolate Tehran from the global economy.
In interviews and an opinion article published Sunday, Bessent said the United States would apply extensive financial pressure to Iran and penalize countries or companies that continue doing business with the Islamic Republic. He characterized the initiative as the toughest sanctions program ever imposed on an adversary and said Washington would expect allies and other governments to choose between economic relations with Iran and access to the United States.
President Donald Trump outlined a similar policy last week, calling for a broad economic operation against Tehran. Trump also warned that nations helping Iran avoid sanctions could face severe financial penalties. The administration says the measures are intended to weaken the Iranian government and restrict its ability to sustain regional military activities.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rejected the threats. According to Iranian state media, an IRGC spokesperson said Tehran has mechanisms to limit the impact of sanctions and can maintain economic ties with willing countries. The spokesperson also portrayed the American focus on economic pressure as evidence that military efforts had not achieved their objectives.
Some analysts question whether additional sanctions will alter Iran’s conduct. Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, noted that Iran is already among the world’s most heavily sanctioned countries. She said Tehran may believe it can withstand pressure longer than the Trump administration is prepared to continue the conflict.
Croft also emphasized that Iran retains the capacity to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and target regional infrastructure. The central uncertainty, she said, is whether further economic isolation will reduce those capabilities or persuade Iranian leaders to change course.