U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensinger wrote on September 4, Beijing time: "The European Union has formally joined the 'economic strangulation campaign.' We appreciate their firm and early stance. The United States stands firmly with our allies to ensure that the brutal Iranian regime cannot exploit the global financial system to fund its nuclear ambitions, weapons programs, and terrorist proxies. The world is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime: we will not stop unless all remaining financial lifelines are severed."
This statement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensinger marks a pivotal diplomatic breakthrough in America’s "maximum pressure" strategy against Iran, evolving into an international coalition led by the U.S. and Europe aimed at comprehensively strangling Iran's economy. The EU’s formal participation signifies a shift from "unilateral U.S. sanctions" to "U.S.-Europe joint sanctions," greatly intensifying financial containment against Iran. In response, the U.S. Department of the Treasury plans to announce new rounds of sanctions weekly.
The EU’s position supports pressure—but with a different strategy
Although joining the initiative, the EU’s stance differs subtly from that of the United States:
The U.S. seeks regime change or complete surrender from Iran, aiming for "until all financial veins are cut off."
The EU views pressure as a tool to bring Iran back to the negotiating table and maintain regional stability. Its underlying motivation stems from concerns about nuclear proliferation threatening European security, as well as a desire to ease tensions with the U.S. over trade and other issues through cooperation.
In short, the EU’s involvement propels this geopolitical contest into a more complex phase. While the united front will exert immense pressure on Iran, it may also trigger uncontrollable escalations in regional conflicts—future developments warrant close attention.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875371272296460/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author