{
  "id": 2178392,
  "title": "US warns allies, China to back economic war on Iran",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/us-warns-allies-china-to-back-economic-war-on-iran",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T16:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260821/us-warns-allies-china-to-back-economic-war-on-iran"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Thursday, the United States issued a stern warning to its allies and China to join forces in President Donald Trump's campaign to isolate Iran's economy and bring down the government in Tehran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks highlighted the shift towards economic pressure on Tehran, as Trump's unpopular war enters its six-month mark. Facing domestic pressure and with important midterm elections approaching, Trump had pledged on Wednesday what he called the \"most crushing\" economic operation ever against Iran. Treasury Secretary Bessent told CNBC that \"this is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world,\" urging allies to choose sides, stating, \"you are either with us or against us.\" When asked about pressuring China, Bessent indicated that private conversations would be necessary to discuss the matter.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday warned allies and China alike to join President Donald Trump's new campaign to isolate the Iranian economy and \"collapse\" the government in Tehran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's comments underscored how Trump is shifting to economic rather than military pressure on Tehran as his unpopular war drags towards the six-month mark. Under pressure at…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Iran condemns new US sanctions, holds Washington fully responsible",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/iran-condemns-new-us-sanctions-holds-washington-fully-responsible",
        "published": "2026-08-20T15:37:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Iran condemns new US sanctions, calls them 'economic terrorism'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/iran-condemns-new-us-sanctions-calls-them-economic-terrorism",
        "published": "2026-08-20T15:41:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Bessent says US will impose toughest ever sanctions on Iran, urges China to cooperate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/bessent-says-us-will-impose-toughest-ever-sanctions-on-iran-urges",
        "published": "2026-08-20T15:46:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "US warns allies, China to back economic war on Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/us-warns-allies-china-to-back-economic-war-on-iran-2180255",
        "published": "2026-08-20T17:02:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}