https://sputnikglobe.com/20260416/us-treasury-starts-operation-economic-fury-to-maximize-pressure-on-iran---hegseth-1123997023.html
US Treasury Starts Operation 'Economic Fury' to Maximize Pressure on Iran - Hegseth
US Treasury Starts Operation 'Economic Fury' to Maximize Pressure on Iran - Hegseth
Sputnik International
The US Treasury is launching Operation "Economic Fury" against Iran to maximize economic pressure on the country, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Thursday.
2026-04-16T12:25+0000
2026-04-16T12:25+0000
2026-04-16T13:56+0000
us-israel war on iran
peter hegseth
tehran
us treasury
us
iran
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/06/16/1122318198_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_888b05b0087ffb1016fc8737cb4ce8cd.jpg
"At the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and our friends over at Treasury are launching Operation 'Economic Fury' as well, maximizing economic pressure across the entirety of the government," Hegseth told reporters.On BlockadeThe United States is going to maintain its ongoing blockade against Iran for as long as required, Hegseth said, warning Tehran of renewed attacks if it makes "poor" choices during negotiations.On NATOHegseth also accused NATO countries of failing to support Washington when it needed them most during its military operation against Iran.He added, however, that the United States would welcome these countries joining even at a later stage.On April 1, Trump said that he was strongly considering withdrawing the US from NATO after the allies refused to join the US-Israeli war on Iran. He said he no longer saw Europe as a reliable defense partner after the Europeans rejected his call to send warships to the strategic waterway.On CeasefireHegseth said on Thursday that Iran's motivation to maintain the ceasefire with the US is "very high."Other StatementsUS forces are postured in the Middle East to their maximum in case of a need to resume military operations against Iran, Hegseth said.US President Donald Trump is not influenced by Israel when making decisions on Iran, Hegseth said.China has assured the United States that it will not send weapons shipments to Iran, Hegseth said.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20260413/trump-says-us-needs-to-reassess-relations-with-nato-after-lack-of-support-against-iran-1123978277.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20260413/trump-talks-iran-blockade-nukes-peace-negotiations-1123984316.html
tehran
iran
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2026
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
News
en_EN
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
us, iram, war, conflict, operation, hegseth, treasury, economic fury, pressure, economy, secretary of war
us, iram, war, conflict, operation, hegseth, treasury, economic fury, pressure, economy, secretary of war
US Treasury Starts Operation 'Economic Fury' to Maximize Pressure on Iran - Hegseth
12:25 GMT 16.04.2026 (Updated: 13:56 GMT 16.04.2026) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Treasury is launching Operation "Economic Fury" against Iran to maximize economic pressure on the country, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Thursday.
"At the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and our friends over at Treasury are launching Operation 'Economic Fury' as well, maximizing economic pressure across the entirety of the government," Hegseth told reporters.
The United States is going to maintain its ongoing blockade against Iran for as long as required, Hegseth said, warning Tehran of renewed attacks if it makes "poor" choices during negotiations.
"Iran can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge ... In the meantime and for as long as it takes, we will maintain this blockade," Hegseth said during a press briefing. "But if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy."
Hegseth also accused NATO countries of failing to support Washington when it needed them most during its military operation against Iran.
"When shots were fired and those [NATO] countries were needed the most, they weren't there. They weren't in the Strait [of Hormuz]. They weren't alongside us," Hegseth told a briefing.
He added, however, that the United States would welcome these countries joining even at a later stage.
On April 9, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said some alliance members were "a bit slow" to support the US military campaign against Iran, arguing they were caught off guard as US President Donald Trump did not inform allies in advance. However, Rutte added that nearly all allies are now providing the support requested by Washington.
On April 1, Trump said that he was strongly
considering withdrawing the US from NATO after the allies refused to join the US-Israeli war on Iran. He said he no longer saw Europe as a reliable defense partner after the Europeans rejected his call to send warships to the strategic waterway.
Hegseth said on Thursday that Iran's motivation to maintain the ceasefire with the US is "very high."
"Their [Iran's] motivation to want to stay in the ceasefire is very high," Hegseth told a briefing.
US forces are postured in the Middle East to their maximum in case of a need to resume military operations against Iran, Hegseth said.
"So after the chairman concludes, we'll ask Admiral Cooper to share a quick update on the ground truth from his trip to the region as he continues to implement an iron clad blockade and ensures that our forces are maximally postured to restart combat operations," Hegseth told a briefing.
US President Donald Trump is not influenced by Israel when making decisions on Iran, Hegseth said.
"Not a single thing has been foisted upon the president of the United States. President Trump makes his own decisions about the interests of this country and defending our interest, and then working with allies and partners, in this case, Israel, who's got a lot of will and a lot of capabilities, which we're grateful for," Hegseth told a briefing, when asked to comment on claims that the policy of zero enrichment for the Iranians was foisted upon Trump by the Israelis.
On April 11, Iran and the US held talks in Islamabad after Trump announced he had reached an agreement with Tehran on a two-week ceasefire. On April 12, the head of the US delegation, Vice President JD Vance, said Iran and the US had failed to reach an agreement during the negotiations. The US delegation returned home without a deal.
Trump then announced a blockade of all vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz.
China has assured the United States that it will not send weapons shipments to Iran, Hegseth said.
"Well, as you know, [US] President [Donald] Trump has a very strong and direct relationship with [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping], and they've communicated on that [weapons shipments], and China has assured us that that indeed is not going to happen," Hegseth told reporters, when asked to comment on reports that the US intelligence indicated China was preparing weapons shipments to Iran during the ceasefire.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said that two Chinese financial institutions were warned they could be targeted with secondary sanctions if Iranian money had been moved through their accounts.
