US ramps up Iran pressure with new sanctions threat, no talks
What's new: Washington warned other countries to cut Iran ties or risk secondary sanctions, while Trump said diplomacy is off for now.
The United States intensified its pressure campaign on Iran this week, pairing a broader sanctions threat with a halt in direct diplomacy. President Donald Trump said on Aug. 27 that Washington is not talking with Tehran, as the White House cast the effort as an economic offensive aimed at forcing Iran back to meaningful negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had warned countries on Aug. 24 to sever financial ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions, though the Treasury Department did not immediately impose penalties. Markets largely treated the move as less disruptive than military action, even as officials kept “all options” open and shipping risks near the Strait of Hormuz remained a concern.