ALBAWABA - The United States is developing a new, wide package of economic measures aimed at increasing pressure on Iran, with senior officials describing the planned penalties as among the harshest ever imposed on a single country.
The approach will blend financial sanctions, stepped-up maritime enforcement and calibrated military deterrence, but it will also leave diplomatic doors open to allow for the potential of future negotiations, a source familiar with the White House’s preparations told Reuters.
The latest penalties, believed to target the financial infrastructure Tehran employs to shift money abroad, differ from previous sanctions that targeted mainly Iranian corporations and government institutions. Officials are apparently preparing to target currency exchange networks, money transfer systems and third-country financial conduits that allegedly enable Iran skirt existing limitations and fund entities tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Washington is also developing tighter measures to monitor cross-border financial transactions involving Iran, with the aim of impeding the flow of foreign currency into the country’s economy, the person added.
At sea, the administration aims to tighten rules on shipping tied to Iranian commerce by putting pressure on ships carrying Iranian goods and restricting their entry into important international ports. U.S. officials believe that the dual approach of maritime enforcement and financial isolation will have a bigger economic impact than sanctions alone in affecting both trade and revenue flows at the same time.
The plans follow remarks by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who recently indicated Washington would reveal actions against Iran "unprecedented" in the annals of economic sanctions, with further announcements to come in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Vise President JD Vance said preserving global energy markets is a top goal for the administration and the United States has several measures to pressure Tehran while trying to limit the impact on oil prices.
Iranian observers said Tehran is already drawing up contingency plans to cushion the impact of the anticipated measures. These include increased utilization of Pakistani ports, more overland commercial routes thru neighboring nations, and alternate marine passages outside the areas where U.S. naval troops have a significant presence.
Analysts also anticipate Iran to continue exploiting the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic lever and warn Tehran could respond by increasing security concerns for international shipping in a bid to ramp up economic pressure on Western nations.
The expected U.S. package reflects a broader shift in Washington’s policy, combining financial restrictions, maritime pressure and trade disruption, in what might be a new phase in the economic battle between the United States and Iran.
