Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة تكشف خطة عقوبات على إيران وتلمّح إلى احتمال معاقبة الصين
According to Cnbc, the Trump administration announced “Operation Economic Outcast,” a plan to isolate Iran’s economy by threatening secondary sanctions against entities described as the Islamic Republic’s enablers.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. would begin by sending individual countries timelines to stop activities identified by Washington, rather than immediately imposing the promised sanctions. He said entities that facilitate money laundering for Iran would be removed from the U.S. dollar system.
The plan raised questions about China, Iran’s top trading partner, as Washington and Beijing maintain a fragile trade truce. Bessent said no one was beyond the reach of U.S. sanctions and indicated Chinese banks or other entities could be targeted if they facilitate transactions connected to turning Iranian oil into money.
Bessent said Iran’s enablers include those that buy or transport its oil, facilitate financial transactions, accept its flights or permit seaborne transfers. The administration is also expanding its sanctions scope to digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping sectors linked to Iran.
The announcement came as the U.S. war against Tehran nears six months, with a weak ceasefire agreement reached in June largely discarded before its 60-day deadline expired. Bessent said the U.S. objective was to sever economic lifelines sustaining Iran’s regime until Tehran stands alone.
