US vows 'economic asphyxiation' of Iran with new sanctions
The US Treasury has announced plans for 'economic asphyxiation' of Iran through expanded secondary sanctions. China has formally opposed these measures, labeling them illegal and vowing to protect its economic interests.
Why it matters
This escalation threatens to disrupt global oil markets and heightens geopolitical tensions between the US and China over trade compliance.
CHINA HAS RESPONDED to the US threat to punish countries that have economic ties with Iran, saying it is opposed to “illegal unilateral sanctions”.
On Monday, US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent laid out plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran, expanding Washington’s secondary sanctions threats and warning of dire consequences for countries that do not join the campaign.
Iran has already been under US sanctions for decades and the Trump administration has been grasping to find more leverage over the Islamic Republic since it launched a war against the country alongside Israel almost six months ago.
“Around the globe, our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” Bessent told journalists on Monday.
“We are going to hold everyone accountable, and this is economic asphyxiation of this regime.”
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