Sep 22, 2026, 03:30 PM UTC

The United States is preparing to announce a new series of economic sanctions aimed at isolating Iran and its international trading partners. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined the measures, describing them as "the toughest sanctions in history" intended to sever Tehran's financial lifelines and exclude entities assisting Iran with money laundering from the US dollar system.

Bessent argued that maximizing economic pressure could lessen the need for future large-scale military operations in the region. He also called on international allies to support the campaign, stating that Washington aims to collapse the regime's economic backing. The announcement follows warnings from US President Donald Trump of an "economic D-day," which contributed to Iran's rial falling to a record low of 1.992 million per dollar on unregulated markets.

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

Thousands of displaced people are fleeing western Yemen following recent territorial gains by Iran-backed Houthi forces along the Red Sea coastline. The insurgent group captured key areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic maritime chokepoint crucial for international shipping.

The escalation marks the latest development in Yemen's ongoing civil war, which began in 2014 when Houthi forces took control of the capital, Sanaa. A coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily in 2015 to support the recognized government, but fighting has periodically intensified, compounding the regional humanitarian crisis.

Sources: BBC News