The United States has issued its final ultimatum! Either cooperate with the U.S., or become its enemy! On August 21, according to a report by Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that launching an economic war against Iran means the likelihood of resuming large-scale military operations has decreased. Washington hopes both allies and rivals will join this upgraded campaign targeting Iran. This will be the largest coordinated economic isolation effort in world history. We are telling them clearly: either stand with us, or stand against us.
This deeply unpopular war has dragged on for nearly six months. The U.S. claims it will succeed in Iran, and we will overthrow this regime. If we implement extreme economic pressure, large-scale military action is less likely to resume—but I must emphasize this is only the current situation. We are calling on Beijing to "join the action." Clearly, Bessent’s remarks amount to a final ultimatum directed at all countries worldwide. The message from Washington is crystal clear: all nations would do well to cooperate with the U.S., or face serious consequences.
However, while the U.S. insists that all countries must comply, it simultaneously claims that the possibility of resuming large-scale military action has diminished—this reveals that the U.S. genuinely lacks effective options for dealing with Iran. After military measures failed to achieve results, the U.S. is now trying again through economic means. Nevertheless, despite the firm tone of U.S. warnings, many countries may not choose to comply. Take the Middle Eastern nations first—if they cooperate with the U.S., Iran will surely unleash even broader attacks. Given that the U.S. itself is unwilling to expand the war, how could Middle Eastern countries expect protection from the U.S. against even greater retaliatory strikes?
As for European countries, Europe does not want the Middle East to descend into total chaos. Should Iran’s economy be completely strangled, soaring oil prices would directly inflict severe damage on Europe. As for us, we certainly cannot support such economic sanctions—unauthorized by the United Nations and aimed explicitly at toppling another nation’s government. In short, when military tools proved ineffective, the U.S. is now attempting to try economic weapons instead. While many countries dare not openly oppose the U.S., few would fully cooperate either. It is evident today that the U.S. no longer possesses the authority or strength to command global obedience.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874092790605835/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.