{
  "id": 2223173,
  "title": "US pushes allies, China to back Trump’s economic war on Iran",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/us-pushes-allies-china-to-back-trumps-economic-war-on-iran",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T20:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/08/21/us-pushes-allies-china-to-back-trump-s-economic-war-on-iran"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared that President Donald Trump's new strategy would isolate Iran's economy and ultimately topple the regime in Tehran. The economic pressure was expected to be greater than any previous coordinated global effort against a nation. Bessent urged allies and China to join the campaign, suggesting it would be the \"greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world.\" China, however, remained uncommitted, with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to meet Trump at the White House later that month. Bessent also hinted that the economic approach could prevent a resurgence of heavy military operations against Iran. Iran labeled the threats as \"economic terrorism\" and a form of \"crimes against humanity.\" Despite years of sanctions, Iran continued exporting oil, primarily to China. Meanwhile, Trump announced an \"unprecedented\" economic blockade against Iran, while simultaneously increasing military presence in the region.",
  "summary": "Treasury secretary Scott Bessent calls on Beijing to 'get with the programme' and says countries can either be with or against the US.",
  "key_points": [
    "US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declares Trump's new strategy to isolate Iran's economy.",
    "Iran labels the economic approach as \"economic terrorism\" and crimes against humanity."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "US Pushes Allies, China To Support Trump's Economic War On Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/us-pushes-allies-china-to-support-trumps-economic-war-on-iran",
        "published": "2026-08-20T20:01:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "US pushes allies, China to back Trump’s economic war on Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/us-pushes-allies-china-to-back-trumps-economic-war-on-iran-2224309",
        "published": "2026-08-20T20:55:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Trump administration pressuring countries to cut economic ties with Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/trump-administration-pressuring-countries-to-cut-economic-ties-with",
        "published": "2026-08-20T22:15:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "US pushes allies, China to back Trump's economic war on Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/us-pushes-allies-china-to-back-trumps-economic-war-on-iran-2245821",
        "published": "2026-08-20T22:36:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "How much could Trump's 'economic D-Day' hurt Iran?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/how-much-could-trumps-economic-d-day-hurt-iran",
        "published": "2026-08-20T23:16:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}