The United States has imposed sanctions on 13 individuals and entities from China, Russia, Hong Kong, and Pakistan for facilitating Iran’s acquisition of weapons and related components. According to a report by Reuters, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the State Department announced the measures on September 29. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated: “We will not tolerate any support for the Iranian regime and will continue to identify, expose, and isolate its enablers.”
In reality, this action represents only a fraction of the broader U.S. campaign against Iran. Since the launch of the so-called “economic expulsion initiative” by Bessent on August 24, American sanctions have evolved into a systematic strategy. The scope now extends beyond traditional sectors such as oil and finance to include aviation, digital assets, gold, shipping, and technology. Any entity found laundering money for Iran risks being excluded from the U.S. dollar settlement system. The underlying logic is clear: while Iran may withstand economic isolation, it still depends on external lifelines. Currently, Russia provides arms technology and energy cooperation, while China offers trade corridors and payment channels—precisely the two critical links that the United States seeks to sever entirely.
But is this feasible? Can the United States actually achieve such a goal? The challenge lies in the fact that Washington can no longer unilaterally impose broad-based sanctions on Iran’s top trading partners. China, for instance, is Iran’s largest trading partner. China is also the biggest buyer of Russian energy and a significant importer of Iranian crude oil. Removing major Chinese financial institutions from the dollar system would trigger global market turmoil—consequences the United States itself could not absorb.
Indeed, the more forcefully Bessent speaks, the clearer it becomes that the U.S. lacks superior alternatives. Sanctions can inflict hardship, but they cannot compel compliance—especially when the target enjoys backing from a major power and has access to alternative financial mechanisms. Recently, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian explicitly affirmed at the United Nations General Assembly: “In the face of sanctions, the resistance of the Iranian people will only grow stronger—we will never yield or submit.”
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877715703512075/
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