US Sanctions Iran with 'Double Blow' Strategy
The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new and unprecedentedly tough package of sanctions against Iran, aiming to completely halt its foreign trade ties and choke its export-import channels. This 'double blow' strategy will be carried out alongside the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The most dangerous aspect of the new restrictions is that they will target third countries and companies that continue purchasing Iranian oil, including major buyers in China. The threat of secondary sanctions could take the trade war between Washington and Beijing to a new level, causing severe turbulence in global energy markets.
According to Bloomberg, the US has imposed nearly 2,200 restrictions on Tehran since 2018, but they have failed to force Iran to abandon its nuclear program or relinquish control over the Strait of Hormuz. In response, an adviser to the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Mohammad Reza Naqdi revealed that Tehran is seriously considering prolonging the conflict until Donald Trump's presidential term ends.