Bessent expects new US secondary sanctions weekly, aiming to increase pressure on Iran
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Asheville, N.C., Aug. 30. AP-Yonhap
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina — The U.S. Treasury Department is likely to unveil weekly new secondary sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran, with an initial focus on banks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters on Sunday.
After imposing penalties on the United Arab Emirates branches of Egypt's Banque Misr on Friday over alleged financial links to Iran, Bessent said in an interview that the next step may be cutting off an institution entirely from the dollar-based financial system.
"You're going to see a lot more of these every week," Bessent said ahead of a Group of 20 finance leaders meeting. "We're starting with the banks, and we're telling the banks it's not okay to have Iranian money and to aid the regime."
Bessent said he intends to drive the message home to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors to cut economic ties to Iran, or face secondary sanctions. The Treasury launched the effort, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, last week.
"There can be no leakage," Bessent said. "You're either with us or you're with the Iranians."
However, he said that he disagreed with some critics who have said that Iran sanctions will not be successful without targeting Chinese companies for secondary sanctions.
Most of China's Iran oil purchases have been curbed by the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, and the amount of Iranian oil stored in tankers is dwindling, he said, adding: "Problem solved."