Trump Vows Tougher Economic Pressure on Iran, Options Pile Up
US President Donald Trump has vowed to increase economic pressure on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinting at new measures against Tehran as early as this week. The US, along with the UN and EU, have imposed sanctions on Iran since the late 1970s due to its nuclear program, human rights violations, and support for militant groups.
The Trump administration has already levied additional maritime, energy, and financial sanctions on Iran since the war began in February. According to data from the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), more than 1,000 people, vessels, and aircraft have been sanctioned since Trump's second term.
The administration could explore several options, including imposing sanctions on Chinese 'teapot' refiners, which account for a quarter of China's refinery capacity. These independent refineries absorb much of the trade in Iranian oil, exposing them to secondary measures that penalize entities helping a primary sanctions target.