ALBAWABA- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has issued a stark warning to Tehran, declaring that Iran will “lose the zero-sum game it is playing” and that any attacks on U.S. allies in the Gulf will trigger direct financial retaliation through Iranian state-linked assets frozen abroad.
In a post on X on Thursday, Bessent said that any damage inflicted by Iran on regional partners would be “paid for with funds extracted from Iranian accounts,” adding that any tolls or fees imposed on maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf would also be offset using Iranian-held assets.
“Every attack Iran launches will only deepen the economic and financial consequences it faces,” Bessent wrote, framing the administration’s approach as part of an intensified sanctions and financial pressure campaign targeting Tehran’s military and regional operations.
The comments align with what the Treasury has previously described as an “Economic Fury” strategy, an expanded sanctions regime aimed at dismantling Iranian military procurement networks, freezing overseas assets, and cutting off revenue streams linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The latest warning comes amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf following the creation of the so-called Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) in May 2026, an Iranian-backed maritime body designed to regulate transit through the Strait of Hormuz and impose fees on commercial shipping. Washington has rejected the move as illegal and accused Tehran of attempting to extort the global shipping industry.
The U.S. Treasury previously sanctioned the PGSA, warning that any cooperation with the entity could expose companies to secondary sanctions. Officials in Washington have described the mechanism as a direct challenge to freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
The escalation unfolds against the backdrop of the ongoing 2026 conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which erupted after large-scale strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities in February. The conflict has since shifted between active hostilities and a fragile ceasefire, with repeated flare-ups in the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global shipping and contributing to volatile energy markets.
Washington’s broader strategy has combined military pressure with aggressive financial measures, including sanctions on shipping networks, procurement channels, and institutions linked to Iran’s security apparatus. Bessent’s remarks underscore the administration’s position that economic pressure will be used not only to deter further attacks but also to offset costs incurred by U.S. allies in the region.
Iran has not formally responded to the latest comments, but officials have previously denounced similar measures as economic warfare and violations of international law. Tehran is expected to continue resisting sanctions pressure while maintaining leverage in the Strait of Hormuz, even as its economy faces severe strain from prolonged conflict and financial isolation.
