Source: BBC · 2026-08-22 · Original article ↗

US says sanctions will 'squash' Iran's economy and 'collapse' its regime

Bessent told allies to pick a side. The point of the sanctions is a squashed economy, not another seminar.

Summary

  • BBC reports the United States says sanctions will squash Iran's economy and collapse the regime if the pressure holds.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said allies will need to decide whether they are with Washington or against it on the Iran file.
  • The line is economic warfare with a public win condition, not a pause for another Oman round.
  • A collapse talk only matters if the back doors in Beijing and Moscow stay expensive.

Commentary

A tanker clerk in Houston still prices a barrel with a war risk line that used to be a rounding error. He already paid for talks that left the IRGC richer.

That is the gap. Bessent named squash and collapse. Allies who keep buying the crude are not neutral. They are the mattress.

Ask the pump on Monday: if the regime can still wire Moscow, what exactly did the last waiver buy except time?

Comments

Do 'squash' and 'collapse' mean secondary sanctions this month?
u/border_dad · 5h

With us or against us is a customs code, not a toast. Fine the helpers.

u/midwest_vet · 4h

I do not need another white flag clock. I need the wire cut.

u/rule_first · 4h

Sanctions statutes already exist. Collapse is an enforcement choice.

u/tokyo_ally · 3h

Partners who bunker Iranian barrels are not friends of the Strait.

u/docket_rat · 3h

Humanitarian channel is where a lot of crates hide. Audit the channel.

u/night_shift · 2h

My diesel went up. Their centrifuges stayed on. Close the back door.

u/texas_mom · 90m

Collapse talk is cheap if Beijing still clears the payment.

u/gulf_watch · 55m

Maximum pressure plus a Navy is the policy. A seminar is the delay.

u/press_clip · 30m

BBC printed Bessent's with-us line. Hold him to the verbs.

u/soc_lead · 15m

Squash the books. Collapse the patronage. Keep ICE and the tankers in the same week.

Paraphrased comments. Not attributed.

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