The United States on Monday announced a new and far-reaching package of sanctions against Iran, targeting nearly 60 companies, individuals and vessels linked to the Iranian regime's nuclear, missile, cyber and oil networks.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures are designed not only to punish Iranian entities but also to disrupt the international financial and commercial networks that continue to provide Tehran with access to global markets.
The announcement represents another escalation in Washington's campaign to cut off the Iranian regime's sources of revenue and prevent it from rebuilding its military and terrorist capabilities.
Washington Declares a Policy of "Zero Leakage"
The Treasury Department said it is suspending general licenses that had permitted certain financial transfers involving Iran.
Washington also announced that it will enforce what Bessent described as a "zero-leakage" approach to sanctions on Iran, seeking to prevent Tehran from exploiting loopholes or indirect financial channels.
The latest sanctions target networks of brokers and vessels belonging to Iran's so-called shadow fleet, operating through or connected to the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Switzerland and Europe.
The administration also warned that secondary sanctions could potentially be imposed on companies operating in five additional sectors:
- Digital assets
- Technology
- Gold
- Aviation
- Shipping
Warns Banks and Governments Around the World
Bessent delivered a direct warning to governments and financial institutions that continue to facilitate Iranian trade.
“The world's leaders must choose between isolation and prosperity, between the United States and Iran,” Bessent said.
He specifically warned that Washington could take action against Chinese banks that assist Iran.
“If Chinese banks assist the Iranians, we will act against them,” he said, while stressing that the United States is initially seeking to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels.
Bessent warned that countries and institutions have been given a defined timetable to shut down activities identified by Washington or face action by the U.S. Treasury.
He also said that additional sanctions targeting major institutions would be announced by the end of the week.
"We Will Choke the Iranians"
The Treasury secretary used unusually strong language to describe the administration's strategy.
“We will choke the Iranians,” Bessent said, warning that anyone helping Iran evade sanctions or launder money could ultimately be excluded from the U.S. dollar financial system.
The message is intended to extend the reach of American sanctions far beyond Iranian companies themselves.
The United States effectively controls access to the dollar-based international financial system, giving Washington enormous leverage over banks and companies around the world.
Washington Targets Iran's Sources of Revenue
According to the Treasury Department, the latest measures are intended to close financial channels that provide revenue to the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The administration said that Treasury and other U.S. government agencies would intensify efforts to block virtually every potential source of income that could finance the IRGC and the Iranian government.
“The actions of the Treasury Department and other government agencies will tighten the noose and block every possible source of revenue that finances the Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian regime,” the administration said.
Washington's objective is to prevent Iran from obtaining the financial resources required to rebuild its military capabilities and support terrorism.
Hegseth: Military Options Remain on the Table
At the same press conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made clear that the administration is not ruling out further military action.
Hegseth said the United States is not ruling out strikes in the Strait of Hormuz or inside Iran.
His comments are significant because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important energy corridors, through which a substantial share of global oil supplies passes.
Any military escalation around the strait could therefore have consequences extending well beyond the Middle East, potentially affecting global energy prices, shipping and financial markets.
A Broader Strategy of Economic and Military Pressure
The latest sanctions appear to be part of a broader American strategy combining economic pressure, diplomatic coercion and the threat of military action.
Washington is seeking to force countries that maintain commercial relations with Tehran to choose between access to the U.S.-dominated financial system and continued cooperation with Iran.
Bessent's warning was explicit: countries and companies that assist Tehran should expect to share in Iran's international isolation.
“Those who stand with the United States will reap the benefits of partnership with us,” he said. “Those who tie themselves to the Iranian regime should expect to share the isolation of a regime in decline.”
The Next Test: China and the Global Financial System
One of the most significant questions arising from the new sanctions is how far Washington is prepared to go against Chinese financial institutions and companies involved in Iranian trade.
China remains a critical economic partner for Iran and an important buyer of Iranian oil.
If Washington moves from warnings to sanctions against major Chinese banks, the confrontation could expand from a campaign against Iran into a much broader dispute between the United States and China over the enforcement of American sanctions.
For now, the administration says it is allowing governments and financial institutions to comply through diplomatic channels.
But the message from Washington is increasingly clear:
The United States intends to make the cost of doing business with Iran substantially higher — and is prepared to use both its financial power and, if necessary, its military capabilities to enforce its policy.
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