US Announces Toughest Sanctions in History Against Iran

The United States is preparing what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as the toughest sanctions in history against Iran, intensifying a campaign of economic pressure as a military conflict with Tehran nears the six-month mark. Bessent announced the planned measures on Thursday, August 20, 2026, stating the goal is to "collapse this regime" without a return to major fighting.

His comments followed a warning from President Donald Trump a day earlier, who pledged "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale." Bessent framed the sanctions as the second part of a "one-two punch," complementing a U.S. naval blockade imposed on Iran in April. "We have the blockade, and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history," he told CNBC. The Treasury Secretary suggested that if the maximum economic pressure campaign succeeds, it could reduce the need for further large-scale military operations. "That means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart, but I will emphasize that is for now," he said.

Bessent issued a stark warning to the international community, insisting that countries must choose between engaging with the U.S. or doing business...