News analysis
Having threatened Iran with ‘economic D-Day’, the US opts for surprising moderation instead
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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new set of sanctions against Iran on Aug 24.
PHOTO: AFP
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shifted from threatening harsh sanctions on Iran to a more moderate approach, emphasising quiet diplomacy and avoiding direct confrontation with China.
- The US imposed sanctions on 60 entities linked to Iran’s oil trade and military, aiming to cut off revenue.
- Sanctions are expected to remain the Trump administration’s primary instrument until the mid-term elections, with military options only feasible again afterwards.
AI generated
LONDON – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has apparently discovered the virtue of patience.
Having warned over the weekend that the greatest financial offensive against Iran was about to begin, Bessent suddenly struck a very different tone at a packed press conference in Washington on Aug 24.
