US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on global allies to align with Washington in an aggressive campaign to “squash” the Iranian economy. Speaking to CNBC, Bessent declared that the objective is to “collapse” the current regime, asserting that international partners must now decide if they are “with us or against us.”
This push follows a warning from President Donald Trump, who stated that any nation providing a “lifeline” to the Iranian government will encounter “tremendous economic consequences.” While Bessent did not detail the specific measures the administration intends to deploy, he emphasized that this strategy is designed to “minimise the need” for a “large-scale kinetic restart” of military conflict.
By intensifying financial pressure, the US administration aims to achieve its geopolitical goals without resorting to direct warfare. Bessent’s comments underscore a firm ultimatum for the international community as the White House seeks to isolate Tehran. The report also notes that bessent believes international sanctions will ‘minimise the need’ to return to war with Iran.
