- Treasury Secretary Bessent warned Iran's supporters: “Stay away” or “we will put you out of business,” emphasizing the need for global partners to avoid dealings with the Iranian regime.
- Bessent cited recent sanctions on the Dubai branches of an Egyptian bank that had provided more than $1.8 billion to the Iranian regime since 2025.
- Bessent said new Treasury authorities have expanded Washington’s ability to pursue Iran’s support network across aviation, shipping, and digital assets.
- He described Iran's economic distress: hourslong queues at petrol stations, a sharply weakening currency, inflation above 100%, and Iran’s inability to pay its military personnel.
- Bessent highlighted the impact of recent actions: six weeks of successful kinetic strikes and a blockade isolating Iran, now applying unprecedented sanctions to asphyxiate the regime.
Treasury Secretary Bessent issued a stark warning to Iran's global supporters, urging them to 'stay away' or risk being 'put out of business.' In a recent interview, he stated, “We are telling friends and foes, do not deal with this evil regime.”
Bessent highlighted the recent sanctions against the Dubai branches of an Egyptian bank, which had allegedly funneled over $1.8 billion to Iran since 2025. He emphasized that the U.S. is committed to dismantling Iran's support network across various sectors, including aviation, shipping, and digital assets, stating, “We are going to systemically go through and take every bad actor like that out.”56
The Secretary noted the dire economic situation in Iran, pointing to hours-long queues at petrol stations, a sharply weakening currency, and inflation exceeding 100%. He remarked on the regime's struggles to pay military personnel, indicating a significant impact from the sanctions. “Now we are applying sanctions like have never been seen before that are going to asphyxiate the regime,” Bessent added, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the U.S. strategy to isolate Iran.7
Bessent's comments reflect a broader U.S. strategy to engage with countries and businesses that support Iran, emphasizing that “This is all hands on deck.”
“Bessent cited sanctions on Dubai branches of an Egyptian bank that provided over $1.8 billion to Iran since 2025, vowing to 'systemically go through and take every bad actor like that out.' He described Iran's economic distress, including inflation above 100% and hourslong petrol queues.”
Livemint
