US prepares severe sanctions to isolate Iran's economy

Nexus Europa Newsroom
Posted Sep 13, 2026, 03:30 AM UTC · In the digest of 2026-09-13-0330
US prepares severe sanctions to isolate Iran's economy
Photo: Cyprus Mail

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced upcoming sanctions to cut off Iran's economic lifelines, prompting the Iranian rial to fall to a record low.

The United States is preparing to introduce what US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as "the toughest sanctions in history" to isolate Iran's economy and target its foreign trading partners. Bessent stated that Washington intends to remove entities facilitating money laundering for Tehran from the global dollar system, aiming to "cut off every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime".

Bessent argued that intensifying economic pressure could lessen the need for major military operations. He also urged foreign partners to back the measures, telling CNBC that "it is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision."

Following the rhetoric, the Iranian rial dropped to a record low on unregulated currency markets.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Cyprus Mail, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

How outlets assessed this

    • BBC News Alarmed Highlighted the confrontation by emphasizing Washington's hardline ultimatum to collapse Iran's regime and squash its economy.
    • Cyprus Mail Cautious Framed the economic pressure strategy primarily as an alternative aimed at reducing the risk of renewed large-scale military conflict.
    • BBC News Alarmed Emphasized aggressive rhetoric targeting Iranian regime collapse and Washington's ultimatum to international allies.
    • Cyprus Mail Cautious Framed the sanctions' primary purpose as reducing the likelihood of renewed large-scale military conflict.
    • BBC News Alarmed Highlighted aggressive US ultimatums and rhetoric aimed at collapsing the Iranian regime and forcing foreign allies to choose sides.
    • Cyprus Mail Cautious Emphasized Treasury officials' positioning of economic pressure as a means to prevent renewed large-scale military conflict.
    • BBC News Alarmed Framed the sanctions around aggressive US threats to collapse Iran's regime and force international allies to take sides.
    • Cyprus Mail Cautious Highlighted the administration's argument that economic isolation could prevent further large-scale military operations.

Sources

Earlier coverage

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