US warns of new sanctions against Iran every week

The US administration is expected to intensify economic pressure on Iran through new punitive measures, which could be announced on a weekly basis.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would target institutions and companies that maintain financial ties with Iran. “You will see a lot more of this every week,” he said in an interview with Reuters ahead of the meeting of G20 finance ministers.

The warning came after the United States imposed sanctions on branches of Banque Misr in the United Arab Emirates that are suspected of having financial links to Iran.

Bessent explained that the penalties could go as far as completely excluding certain institutions from the financial system that operates on the US dollar.

He said the US would ask G20 finance ministers and central bankers to sever economic ties with Iran.

If they do not act in this way, the institutions could face secondary sanctions. “You are either with us or with the Iranians,” Bessent said, clearly conveying the position of the US administration.

According to the Treasury secretary, the aim of these measures is to block the use of the international financial system to fund the Iranian regime. He also rejected claims that US sanctions would have no effect unless measures were imposed on Chinese companies buying oil from Iran. Bessent said most of these purchases had already been restricted through US measures targeting Iranian ports.

He added that the amount of Iranian oil stored in tankers was also declining. “The problem has been solved,” Bessent said, signaling Washington’s belief that economic pressure was producing results.

By announcing new punitive measures every week, the United States aims to increase the economic cost for Iran, as well as for international institutions that continue to cooperate with it.