The aggressive posture contradicts recent optimism surrounding the UN General Assembly in New York, where the arrival of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had sparked hopes for diplomatic progress. While energy markets initially reacted to potential de-escalation, Bessent’s comments reinforce a policy of maximum pressure. He explicitly stated that the United States is currently squeezing the Iranian economy at an unprecedented scale.

This rhetoric aligns with recent remarks from President Trump, who suggested in a Fox News interview that the conflict could only conclude through the total collapse of Iran’s economy or decisive military action. Tehran has responded to these threats with a stern warning, with its central military command pledging that any U.S. aggression would trigger immediate and painful strikes against American interests across the region.