US official toured countries in Europe, Middle East to warn against keeping ties with Iran
Jonathan Burke said secondary sanctions will target foreign banks and firms that keep dealing with Tehran, as several governments already restricted Iranian flights and transactions.
- United States Treasury Department assistant secretary for terrorist financing Jonathan Burke toured over 50 countries across the Middle East and Europe, delivering an ultimatum: choose between trade with Washington or Tehran, according to a Friday Wall Street Journal report.
- Operation Economic Outcast, launched in August, drives the intensified sanctions campaign. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the goal is to "sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime," targeting Iranian banks, airlines and crypto infrastructure.
- Several governments have already complied: the United Arab Emirates blocked transactions involving Iran's Bank Melli citing alleged breaches linked to money laundering, Turkey revoked Bank Mellat's licence, and Iraq, Azerbaijan and Georgia restricted Iranian flights following a September 8 sanctions package.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged mounting economic pressure but rejected surrender, calling President Donald Trump a "bully" in a Saturday interview with Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera. "We will die, but we will not bow our heads," Pezeshkian vowed.
- While Iran maintains flight connections to China and Russia, the United States campaign proves especially effective due to growing distrust between the Islamic Republic and Gulf Arab states. Iran-linked Houthi militia attacks on regional shipping have further weakened Gulf ties.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The emissaries sent to the four corners of the world would increase economic pressure on Iran, according to one analyst.
Trump administration lays down ultimatum to dozens of trading partners, Cut ties with Iran or lose access to the US financial system
The Trump administration is telling governments and companies across Europe and the Middle East to slash their economic ties with Iran or lose access to the U.S. financial system, widening a sanctions drive that has already hit Iranian banks and air travel. Jonathan Burke, the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for terrorist financing, spent two weeks […]
‘You either trade with Washington, or with Iran’: US tightens economic siege on Tehran
The Trump administration is dramatically tightening its economic siege on Iran, warning governments across the Middle East and Europe: keep trading with Tehran and risk losing access to the United States. Treasury official Jonathan Burke reportedly carried the ultimatum to more than 50 countries, telling Iran’s trading partners: “You either trade with Washington, or with […]
#Swalev announced that the US has sent teams to various countries around the world, urging them to take actions aimed at isolating Iran economically and tightening its sources of funding, in conjunction with a series of actions that have affected Iran's aviation and banking sectors. The Treasury Department is working with international partners to pressure those who continue to deal with... this content is mobilizing the world's countries to iso…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
