Scott Bessent: US isolation campaign increasingly cuts Iranian officials off from international travel
Summary
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington's expanded pressure campaign against Iran is successfully isolating Iranian officials from international travel and financial assets. He mocked the lifestyles of members of the Revolutionary Guards, stating, "They can’t go see their plastic surgeon in London, their girlfriend in Paris, and their money in Geneva." This campaign has evolved from maximum pressure to a comprehensive isolation effort, which includes not only financial sanctions but also a blockade of Iranian shipping and efforts to restrict land and air routes, with cooperation from countries like the UAE, Oman, Pakistan, and Turkey. Furthermore, Bessent indicated that the US could seize approximately $1 billion in cryptocurrency linked to Iran in the coming week, reinforcing the financial pressure tactics being employed.