Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a stark warning to America’s allies Thursday, declaring they are “either with us or against us” as the Trump administration prepares to unleash what it says will be the toughest economic sanctions ever imposed on Iran.
Bessent said the United States will aggressively use secondary sanctions against foreign governments, companies and financial institutions that continue helping Tehran. The administration’s objective is to isolate Iran from the international economy and deprive its government of the money needed to sustain its military and regional operations.
Countries will face consequences if they continue transferring money to Iran, purchasing Iranian oil or facilitating ship-to-ship transfers designed to circumvent American restrictions. Bessent warned that the Treasury Department and the broader US government will use their full enforcement power against entities that refuse to comply.
“It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,” Bessent said. He added that Washington intends to “squash the economy” of the Iranian government as President Trump dramatically escalates his maximum-pressure campaign.
The administration is expected to provide additional details about the sanctions during a Monday press conference. Bessent has described the coming measures as part of a broader economic offensive designed to achieve American objectives without requiring another large-scale round of military operations.
The strategy combines the new sanctions with the existing US naval blockade, creating what Bessent has repeatedly described as a “one-two punch.” The blockade has already severely restricted Iran’s ability to export oil, while the new financial restrictions are intended to make it increasingly difficult for Tehran to find alternative sources of revenue.
Bessent argued that economic isolation could also dramatically weaken Iran’s ability to project military power throughout the Middle East. Cutting government revenue, he said, would make it harder for Tehran to finance its military and support proxy organizations operating throughout the region.
Iran is already struggling with severe economic problems, including substantial food and consumer-price inflation. The Trump administration believes intensifying those pressures while cutting off foreign revenue could eventually leave Tehran unable to sustain its current policies.
The new approach follows months of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a lasting agreement with Iran. Trump sought an arrangement addressing Tehran’s nuclear program, but negotiations stalled and a preliminary peace framework reached earlier this summer ultimately unraveled after renewed fighting.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained at the center of the confrontation. Trump has repeatedly criticized American allies for failing to provide greater assistance in securing the strategically vital waterway, which plays an enormous role in global energy shipments.
Bessent said the administration believes its strategy can succeed because similar combinations of blockades and economic pressure have produced results elsewhere. He specifically pointed to Venezuela and Cuba while arguing that Iran will ultimately be unable to withstand the unprecedented financial pressure Washington is preparing to impose.
The administration is now effectively demanding that countries around the world choose between maintaining economic ties with Tehran and risking access to the American financial system. Bessent’s message leaves little ambiguity about Washington’s goal: economically isolate Iran, cripple its ability to finance military operations and ultimately bring the Iranian regime to the breaking point.
The post Bessent Warns US Allies ‘You’re Either With Us or Against Us’ as Trump Administration Moves to Crush Iran’s Economy appeared first on Real News Now.
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