Scott Bessent declares a 'with us or against us' stance on Iran as the administration intensifies economic and military pressure.
The administration announced a resumption of military attacks on Iran after a one-month hiatus, prompting retaliatory strikes from Iran against American bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. In response to these strikes, President Trump stated there would be a US response to the Iranian actions in Jordan. To complement these military actions, the administration is ramping up economic sanctions to achieve an 'economic D-Day' against Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described this strategy as 'financial violence' and emphasized a most-critical stance, stating that the world must choose to be either with the US or against it. While China remains a primary importer of Iranian oil and continues to provide economic support, the administration continues to pursue its war with Iran. Despite the ongoing conflict, the administration has yet to be able to force Iranian leadership to budge on negotiations.