US Expands Iran Sanctions and Warns Third Countries: “Choose Washington or Tehran”
Posted on08/24/26 at 14:26
- US Sanctions Against Iran
- Five Sectors Under Surveillance
- Third Countries Face Possible Sanctions
The United States opened a new front against Iran this Monday with an economic offensive designed to cut off the international networks that still generate income for Tehran.
The so-called Economic Marginalization Operation, announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, expands US pressure on companies, intermediaries, individuals, and governments outside of Iran.
Washington identified five priority sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and maritime transport, considered avenues used by Tehran to sustain operations and evade restrictions.
The strategy also incorporates new sanctions against nearly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels related, according to Washington, to petroleum, nuclear, missile, and cyber activities networks.
Why it Matters: US Sanctions Against Iran Reach Third Countries
The main novelty is that the risk is no longer limited to Iranian companies: Washington threatens secondary sanctions against foreign actors who continue certain operations with Tehran.
This could force international companies to evaluate their ties with Iran in the face of the risk of being sanctioned or losing access to the US financial system.
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“Those who support the United States will reap the benefits of our alliance. Those who cling to Tehran must expect to share the isolation of a declining regime,” Bessent stated.
Iran, for its part, warned that it will consider «enemies» the countries that join what it describes as a new «economic war» driven by Washington.
The Fact: Five Sectors Under Greater Pressure from Washington
The Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, issued five sectoral determinations that expand the possibilities of sanctioning foreign individuals related to specific activities in the Iranian economy.
Digital assets are under surveillance for their possible use in evading sanctions, while Washington also targets Iran’s access to advanced technologies related to its military capabilities.
Gold comes into focus due to its economic role, while aviation and maritime transport are pointed out by the US as channels for moving oil, resources, and sensitive materials.
OFAC also suspended several general licenses that allowed certain remittance payments to Iran and certain Iranian access to US cultural and academic exchanges.
The Process: US Sets Deadlines to Cut Business with Iran
Officials from the Treasury and State departments, along with military representatives, are contacting foreign governments to demand action on activities linked to Iran identified by Washington.
Bessent assured that each country will have a determined deadline to act and warned that the US can proceed unilaterally against those who do not adopt the requested measures.
The operation includes networks with a presence in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Switzerland, and Europe, linked by Washington to the transport of Iranian oil and movement of income.
The new designations also reach a network of acquisitions related to nuclear and missile technology, as well as cyber actors linked by Washington to Iranian intelligence.
Iran’s currency keeps plummeting: today, crashing through the exchange rate of 2 million rials to the U.S. dollar.
Over the weekend, Iran’s Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said that the simultaneous drop in Iran’s oil revenues, tax income, and social security… pic.twitter.com/ZjOczci1Xi
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) August 24, 2026
What Companies and Individuals Can Do in the Face of New Sanctions
US and foreign companies with operations related to Iran will have to review their transactions, suppliers, customers, and partners more closely in the face of the expansion of sanctionable categories.
The threat is especially important for companies linked to cryptocurrencies, technology, precious metals, airlines, maritime transport, oil, and financial services related to these activities.
For consumers and families, the scope also deserves attention: the suspension of certain OFAC licenses may modify what operations are allowed, including certain transfers to Iran.
The offensive thus increases the pressure on Tehran while negotiations remain stalled and turns Iran’s international economic relations into another central scenario of the confrontation, noted ‘EFE’ and ‘Home Treasury‘.