Iran faces 'greatest financial offensive ever', says US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent - BBC News

Scott Bessent says the US will sever all economic ties with the country and that any nation partnering with Iran financially will also be isolated.

Image source, Finn Gomez/Getty ImagesByMitchell Labiak and Michael Race, Business reportersPublished24 August 2026, 11:39 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoThe US treasury secretary has threated Iran with "the single greatest financial offensive ever", claiming the US-Israel war with Iran was "entering its endgame".

Scott Bessent said the US would sever all economic ties with the country in "an economic D-Day" and that any nation partnering with Iran financially would also be isolated.

Bessent's threat to the Iranian regime follows several U-turns and extended deadlines from US President Donald Trump's administration on previous threats.

Iran dismissed Bessent's comments and said it would shut down all oil exports from the region "if the war continues", according to news agency Reuters.

The Iranian regime has also issued a new warning to shipping not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission, the agency reported.