The United States is sharply escalating its economic pressure on Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced that, on his directive, teams of American officials have fanned out across several countries, requesting specific measures from foreign partners to curb their economic ties with Tehran. The campaign has been dubbed Operation Economic Outcast by Washington.
Bessent said the US administration aims to restrict Iran’s access to banks, aviation services, international trade, and other sources of income as much as possible. This is the policy of the US government; Iran has long rejected American sanctions.
US Teams Sent Abroad
On September 26, Bessent stated that US teams had been dispatched worldwide to negotiate with foreign governments and press them to take action against the Iranian regime.
According to the treasury secretary, this pressure is already yielding tangible results. He noted that Turkey and Oman have limited flights by Iran’s Mahan Air, and the United Arab Emirates has halted flights by Iranian airlines.
The US is also expanding its financial sanctions. As previously reported by Aktualizovane.sk, Washington has targeted an international network connected to Iran’s defense sector.
Washington Seeks to Cut Iran Off From Funds
The US Treasury launched Operation Economic Outcast on August 24. At the time, Bessent declared the US goal was to sever economic ties that, according to Washington, enable Iran’s leadership to fund its activities.
Since then, US authorities have taken steps against banks, cryptocurrency companies, airlines, and entities suspected of helping Iran evade sanctions.
The situation is complicated by the fact that Iran has previously developed alternative trade mechanisms. As Aktualizovane.sk has reported, according to Reuters, Tehran used oil revenues to purchase Chinese goods outside of normal banking channels.
Banks and Airlines Face Growing Pressure
The financial sector is one of the main targets of the US campaign.
The US Treasury has already taken action against entities that, according to Washington, helped Iran circumvent sanctions. Among those targeted was the Russian VTB Bank, which US authorities accused of working with sanctioned Iranian banks.
Similar pressure is being applied to Iran’s aviation sector. In early September, the US Treasury announced sanctions against dozens of entities linked to the Iranian airline industry. Washington claims that parts of this network were used to transport military material and help circumvent sanctions.
Bessent Uses Strong Rhetoric
As early as September, Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that his aim is to economically “suffocate” Iran and force Tehran into an agreement. This is his and the US administration’s stated political objective, not an independent assessment of the sanctions’ actual impact.
Thus, following military and diplomatic tensions, Washington is shifting increased pressure toward banking, trade, and international transport.
It remains to be seen to what extent other major economies will join the American approach. China and Russia have long refused to support US unilateral sanctions against Iran.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
