Nahost: Von den großen US-Ankündigungen gegen den Iran bleiben nur vage Drohungen

Washington - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued vague threats against countries continuing to trade with Iran during a press conference on Monday. He announced the launch of "Operation Economic Outcast," aiming to sever every economic lifeline supporting the Iranian regime until Tehran stands alone. The US intends to exclude any organization facilitating Iran's money laundering from the US dollar system.

Bessent provided no specifics on the concrete nature of the sanctions, the timeline for affected countries to sever economic ties with Iran, or which countries would be directly impacted. He only mentioned sanctioning a single unnamed financial institution and stated the US would focus on five key areas - digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping.

Nearly 60 companies, individuals, and vessels were targeted on Monday, with more to follow. Talks were underway with affected nations, but the specifics of the measures were far less severe than the martial rhetoric preceding it. When asked why sanctions weren't implemented immediately, Bessent largely deflected, stating they give countries a chance to stop bad behavior and that the US would respond swiftly, taking the threat seriously.

The US strategy shift towards a primarily economic approach against Iran emerged roughly two weeks prior when Trump suggested it wouldn't be primarily military. This came as reports of difficulty in restocking depleted US stockpiles of both defensive and offensive missiles due to the war. The conflict has also become increasingly contentious among American public, partly due to rising fuel prices from the blockage of the vital Hormuz Strait shipping route.

Even among Trump's base of supporters, skepticism has grown, with only those backing his "Make America Great Again" movement still advocating for the war. Diplomatic efforts seem largely stalled, with a June joint statement by Washington and Tehran and the accompanying cease-fire agreement falling through. The success of the new strategy of starving Iran economically may hinge on Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is the single largest trading partner for Iran, purchasing around 90% of its oil.

China had previously refused to enforce the sanctions against Chinese companies buying Iranian oil, explicitly ordering them in May to implement them for the first time under a 2021 anti-sanctions law. While a meeting between Chinese President Xi and US President Trump is planned for September 24, it is uncertain whether China would step up or the US would act harsher against China or its companies dealing with Iran at present.

The US, EU, and UN have imposed heavy sanctions on Iran since the 1970s but have never fully isolated the country.