US Threatens Toughest-Ever Iran Sanctions, Pressing to Reopen Hormuz as China Buys 50% of Gulf Energy
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 20
US Threatens Toughest-Ever Iran Sanctions, Pressing to Reopen Hormuz as China Buys 50% of Gulf Energy
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 20
Summary
Scott Bessent said Washington will impose the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran and pressure other countries to stop buying its oil, moving to what he called the world’s biggest coordinated economic isolation campaign.
The Treasury chief said the effort is meant to “collapse” Iran’s government and help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian forces have restricted passage since the war began on February 28.
China was left as a key unanswered test: asked directly whether Beijing would be targeted, Bessent declined to say, even as he argued China gets 50% of its energy from the Gulf and should back the plan.
The administration already widened sanctions on Thursday by designating 10 people tied to Hezbollah, but critics note decades of penalties have weakened Iran without clearly delivering US goals such as regime change.