United States intensifies economic pressure on Iran through sanctions

The United States has intensified economic pressure on Iran through an extensive diplomatic and financial campaign. U.S. Treasury official Jonathan Burke has engaged in a tour of multiple countries to signal that engaging with Iran may result in American sanctions. This campaign aims to force trading partners to choose between maintaining relations with Tehran or adhering to U.S. economic policies.

Recent measures have targeted Iran's aviation and banking sectors. Oman and the United Arab Emirates have implemented bans on Iranian airlines, while the UAE has also restricted transactions by Bank Melli Iran, the country's largest commercial bank. Turkey has canceled flights for Mahan Air and revoked the license of Bank Mellat. Additionally, Azerbaijan and Georgia have closed their airspace to Iranian carriers. In the United Kingdom, officials have indicated they will not extend exemptions for certain Iranian banks, potentially leading to the closure of Bank Melli's London branch.

In response to these pressures, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran seeks peaceful nuclear technology rather than weapons. He characterized U.S. and Israeli actions as violations of the UN Charter and argued that the recent sanctions cause direct harm to the Iranian people. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have denied reports of new negotiations with the U.S., labeling such claims as attempts to manipulate global oil markets.