The Trump administration is still eyeing additional economic measures against Iran after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated announcements would come this week, an administration official told Semafor.
“There are many levers the president can crank harder in the weeks and months ahead,” the official said. “While he has been consistent in saying he prefers a diplomatic solution, he continues to retain all options if Iran continues to engage in terrorism and refuses to make a deal.”
The current sanctions and naval blockade, the official argued, have already “crippled Iran’s economy.”
The challenge for the administration will be intensifying that pain without harming the American economy. Options like seizing Iranian assets and sanctioning Iran’s trading partners, exchange houses, and Chinese banks all have potential downsides.
The Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment.