What are Trump's options as he seeks to pile more economic pressure on Iran? - explainer

President Trump vowed to hit Iran hard economically, a day after Treasury Secretary Bessent said Washington would impose unprecedented measures on Tehran. The US, UN, and EU have long applied sanctions, embargoes, and asset freezes over Iran's nuclear program and human rights. Since the Iran war began in February, Washington added maritime, energy, and financial sanctions and a naval blockade. OFAC has sanctioned over 1,000 people, vessels, and aircraft since Trump's second term, freezing an estimated $500 billion in Iran-linked cryptocurrency. Experts outline options: sanctions on Chinese 'teapot' refineries, Chinese banks, continued 'whack-a-mole' targeting, a land blockade, and secondary tariffs.

US President Donald Trump on Friday vowed to hit Iran hard economically, a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would impose measures on Tehran that have 'never been seen' as soon as next week. The United States, the United Nations, and the European Union have applied sanctions, implemented trade embargoes, and frozen assets since the late 1970s over Iran's nuclear program, human rights violations, and support for militant groups. Since the Iran war began in February, Washington has levied additional maritime, energy, and financial sanctions and started a naval blockade. Data from the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) shows the agency has imposed sanctions on more than 1,000 people, vessels, and aircraft since Trump began his second term. Recent measures have targeted Iran's shadow oil fleet; shipping insurers; entities and people enabling Iran's acquisition of weapons; and digital exchanges, freezing an estimated $500 billion in Iran-linked cryptocurrency. Experts say the Trump administration can also try these options: sanctions on Chinese 'teapot' refineries, which account for a quarter of Chinese refinery capacity and buy much of Iran's oil; sanctions on Chinese banks, with Treasury warning two larger banks they could face secondary sanctions; continued 'whack-a-mole' targeting of entities helping Iran evade sanctions; a land blockade requiring assistance from Iran's neighbors, though difficult to execute; and secondary tariffs, though the Supreme Court struck down the legal basis, and a Senate bill giving new tariff powers awaits House passage.