According to a report by Reuters on Friday August 14, 2026, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Washington is preparing a new round of economic measures against Iran that could be more severe than anything previously imposed on the country.
Speaking in a television interview on Thursday, Bessent indicated that additional announcements are expected next week, as the Trump administration seeks to increase pressure on Tehran amid the continuing conflict and stalled efforts to restore a ceasefire.
He said the United States was preparing “measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country.”
The warning comes as Washington maintains pressure on Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. US officials have said the naval blockade can be sustained indefinitely through rotating ships, while Tehran continues to insist on its own conditions for reopening the strategic waterway.
The latest threat points to a potentially tougher phase of the US campaign, combining financial restrictions with efforts to limit Iran’s ability to conduct trade through its ports. Further details are expected from Washington in the coming days.
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