US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had discussed with Chinese officials Washington’s demand that Beijing end its economic cooperation with Tehran. He said the two sides had already held productive informal talks.
Bessent also said he plans to hold talks over the weekend with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. According to his remarks, those contacts form part of a broader US effort to tighten economic pressure on Iran.
The US treasury chief said the United States is conducting what he described as “the largest campaign of economic pressure in the world” against Iran and those supporting it. Bessent said that under President Donald Trump, “America is no longer trying to contain the Iranian threat, but is ending it.”
Iran has been under US economic sanctions for many years. In August, Washington launched Operation “Economic Exile” aimed at deepening the country’s financial isolation and increasing pressure on Tehran’s position amid the conflict that began in late February.
Bessent added that the United States is prepared to impose secondary sanctions on parties involved in certain trade transactions with Iran. He said Washington would inform other countries how much time they have to end such deals and economic ties with Tehran.
