US Implements New Sanctions on Iran Amid Rising Tensions
New Economic Measures Against Iran
On Thursday, the United States unveiled additional sanctions targeting Iran, which include restrictions aimed at preventing Iranian airlines from accessing essential services such as landing slots, refueling, and ticket sales. This initiative is part of a broader strategy dubbed 'Economic Fury' aimed at increasing economic pressure on Tehran amidst ongoing Gulf tensions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Iranian economy is facing significant challenges and emphasized that the US will continue to impose stricter measures unless satisfactory negotiations with Tehran occur.
Bessent mentioned in a series of posts on X that the US would be restricting both Iranian airlines from critical operational services, although he did not disclose which airlines would be impacted or the timeline for these restrictions. Additionally, he announced sanctions against the newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), labeling it a 'joke' and warning international businesses and governments against engaging with it.
These sanctions follow Iran's recent establishment of the PGSA, which is tasked with managing operations in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane for global oil supplies. Bessent cautioned that the US would actively target any organization facilitating Iranian toll collection or operational control in the strait, asserting that the US government would not accept any attempts to impose a tolling system in this vital waterway.
President Donald Trump reiterated the US commitment to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international shipping, asserting that no nation would be permitted to exert control over it. 'The Strait is going to be open to everybody. It’s international waters. We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it,' Trump stated during a press briefing.
The intensifying pressure on Iran coincides with delicate indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding Iran's nuclear program and regional security matters. Recent reports indicate that both parties are exploring a temporary ceasefire framework and a potential 60-day memorandum of understanding aimed at resuming formal nuclear discussions. Meanwhile, regional tensions remain elevated following recent military incidents involving Iran, the US, and Israel, including reported drone activities.