US official gives ultimatum to nations in Middle East: Stop trade with Iran, or US will cut ties

A top US Treasury official, Jonathan Burke, visited over 50 countries across the Middle East and Europe, warning them to cease trade with Iran or face being shut out of trading with the US. The campaign, part of Operation Economic Outcast, has led regional partners like Iraq to stop Iranian flights. Iranian President Pezeshkian acknowledged the impact of sanctions but vowed resistance. The US is leveraging growing distrust between Iran and Gulf Arab states, while Iran's regional relations have collapsed under the pressure.

A top US Treasury Department official, Jonathan Burke, visited over 50 countries across the Middle East and Europe, delivering an ultimatum: cease trade with Iran or lose access to US markets. The campaign, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, began in August 2026 and has already led regional partners like Iraq to stop Iranian flights. Burke's tour included Oman, which has historically served as an intermediary between Tehran and the West. The US is leveraging growing distrust between Iran and Gulf Arab states. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his UN General Assembly speech on September 23, acknowledged the significant impact of US sanctions but refused to concede, calling President Trump a bully and insisting Iran is a victim of US terrorism. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he stated, 'We will die, but we will not bow our heads.' The article frames the US campaign as effective, citing the WSJ report and Burke's statements, while noting Iran's regional relations have collapsed under the pressure.