The United States is preparing a new round of tough sanctions on Iran as President Donald Trump’s government seeks to increase pressure on Tehran. The plan has also brought a sharp response from China, which has warned that more economic pressure will not solve the dispute.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington plans to use what he called the toughest sanctions in US history. He said the goal is to put more pressure on Iran and force a change in its government.
Bessent also called on other nations to join the US effort. China is a key target of that appeal because it remains an important trade partner for Iran.
The new US move comes during a wider crisis between Washington and Tehran. The two sides remain locked in a war and talks on ending the conflict have reached a deadlock.
Trump has already warned countries that trade with Iran could face serious economic costs. His latest plan seeks to make that threat stronger.
The US wants to cut off key sources of money for Iran. These may include oil sales, banks, shipping firms and other trade links. The aim is to make it harder for Tehran to earn and move money.
Bessent said the new steps could help bring down Iran’s government. His remarks show that Washington is not only seeking to limit Iran’s trade. It also wants to use economic pressure as a tool to shape Iran’s political future.
China has rejected that approach.
Beijing has criticised Trump’s push for what the US president has called an economic D Day against Iran. Chinese officials have warned that more sanctions will not settle the wider dispute.
China’s position is important because it has trade ties with Iran. It is also a major buyer of Iranian oil. Any effort to cut Iran from global trade would be much harder if Chinese firms continue to do business with Tehran.
The US has already used sanctions as a major part of its Iran policy. The latest plan would raise that pressure at a time when the war has also caused wider economic risks.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the main concerns. The key water route is vital to global oil trade. Iran has kept the strait largely closed since the start of the war in late February.
The dispute has also raised fears over oil prices and world trade. Any long closure of the waterway could affect energy supplies in many parts of the world.
Trump has said Iran must take steps toward a deal. Iran, however, has set its own demands for the reopening of the strait and for a wider end to the conflict.
The latest US plan suggests that Washington is choosing more economic pressure rather than a quick return to talks.
The move could also put pressure on US allies. Washington wants other nations to stop trade links with Iran. Some countries may face a hard choice between following US policy and protecting their own trade and energy needs.
China is likely to be one of the biggest tests for that policy.
If Chinese firms keep buying Iranian goods and using trade links with Tehran, the US may have to decide how far it is willing to go to enforce its sanctions. That could create a new dispute between Washington and Beijing.
For Iran, the pressure could bring more strain to an economy already hit by war and sanctions. Higher costs and fewer trade routes could make daily life harder for many people.
But sanctions also carry risks. They can hurt trade, raise prices and affect people who have little control over government policy.
For now, Washington is moving toward a harder line. Beijing is pushing back. Tehran remains under heavy pressure.
The next step will depend on how the US puts the new sanctions into effect and how other nations respond. The dispute could shape the war, energy markets and US relations with China in the weeks ahead.
