// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Bessent urges US partners to back plans to 'squash' Iran economy
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged US allies to "make a decision" on whether they will support Washington's efforts to "squash" the Iranian economy.
Bessent's remarks come after US President Donald Trump said on his social platform Truth Social that countries providing "any type of lifeline" to the Islamic Republic's regime will face "tremendous economic consequences".
The Treasury secretary did not offer any insight on the measures Trump's team is looking to implement but noted the underlying message to US allies will be: "You are either with us or against us".
"It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision," Bessent told broadcaster CNBC.
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"We are going to squash the economy of this murderous regime" he added.
Bessent said the new economic penalties will be part of "the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world".
"If you insist on doing business with them, either transferring money, buying their oil… then the US Treasury and the US government will put [their] full might and force towards enforcing against you."
The Cabinet secretary also argued that the planned pressure campaign on the Iranian economy will minimise the need of a "large-scale kinetic restart" of the conflict.