Archive · 21 Aug 2026
US Pressures Allies and China to Isolate Iran Economically
The United States wants to put much stronger economic pressure on Iran.
Scott Bessent, a senior US official, told other countries that they should support the plan.
He said the pressure might seriously weaken Iran’s government.
The United States also wants China to cooperate.
Bessent said China could benefit if the Strait of Hormuz reopened and energy prices fell.
Iran said the plan was economic terrorism and would fail.
Iran’s foreign minister also said the campaign distracts people from financial problems in the United States.
Although the plan focuses on sanctions, the United States is still keeping military forces in the region.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged allies to support Washington’s campaign to economically isolate Iran.
Bessent called the effort the greatest coordinated economic isolation campaign in history and said it could collapse Iran’s government.
The United States plans to press China privately to cooperate, citing its dependence on Gulf energy supplies.
Bessent said maximum economic pressure could reduce the likelihood of renewed large-scale military operations against Iran, at least for now.
Iranian officials rejected the campaign as economic terrorism and a diversion from the United States’ domestic financial problems.
- Who
- The United States, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, President Donald Trump, Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, allies, and China.
- What
- The United States is preparing an expanded economic pressure and isolation campaign against Iran and seeking international support for it.
- When
- The warnings were made Thursday; further details were expected at a US press conference on Monday, and Chinese President Xi Jinping was due to visit the White House on September 24.
- Where
- The campaign concerns Iran, the Gulf, and the Strait of Hormuz; Bessent spoke to CNBC.
- Why
- The United States says the campaign could weaken or collapse Iran’s government, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lower energy prices, and reduce the need for renewed large-scale military operations.
US Administration’s Position
Iranian Government’s Position
Purpose of economic pressure
US Administration’s Position
The United States says unprecedented sanctions and economic isolation will weaken or collapse Iran’s government and may reduce the need for renewed large-scale military operations.
Iranian Government’s Position
Iran says the sanctions are economic terrorism, target the fundamental human rights of Iranian citizens, and will fail.
International cooperation
US Administration’s Position
Bessent warned allies that they would be either with the United States or against it and urged China to support the campaign.
Iranian Government’s Position
Iran rejected the US pressure campaign and condemned the sanctions, but the articles do not give a separate Iranian position on whether allies or China should participate.
Economic versus military pressure
US Administration’s Position
Bessent presented maximum economic pressure as making a large-scale military restart less likely, at least for now.
Iranian Government’s Position
Iran’s response focused on rejecting the economic campaign, while the articles report that the US military presence and naval counter-blockade continue.
Reason for the campaign
US Administration’s Position
The United States links the campaign to isolating Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lowering energy prices, and pressuring Tehran.
Iranian Government’s Position
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the campaign diverts American public attention from unprecedented US debt, surging interest costs, and other domestic financial crises.
- US official
- Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary
- Campaign description
- Bessent called the proposed effort the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world.
- Stated objective
- Bessent said the economic campaign would collapse the government in Tehran.
- Measures
- Neither Donald Trump nor Scott Bessent had yet detailed the specific measures; Bessent said more information would be provided Monday.
- China’s role
- Washington said it would seek China’s cooperation, potentially through private discussions.
- Energy issue
- Bessent said China gets 50% of its energy from inside the Gulf and would benefit from the Strait of Hormuz reopening.
- Iranian response
- Abbas Araghchi and Iran’s foreign ministry described the sanctions as economic terrorism and a diversion from US domestic financial problems.
- Military presence
- A new US aircraft carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East, while the United States continued a naval counter-blockade.
