The United States has issued new sanctions to Iran, telling the Iranian regime to halt financial assistance to Tehran. The new measures will seek to hit five priority sectors (digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping), oil income, and 60 entities, vessels and individuals that allegedly participate in the support of the Iranian regime, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
At the same time, Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts related to Iran-US conflict have been stepped up with a view to resolving the tension. Islamabad and Tehran are in talks to resume a longstanding MoU signed by the two countries with the US, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said. In the meeting he discussed the conflict with Iranian President, alongside Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, the tensions in the Middle East and steps towards a comprehensive settlement, Naqvi said.
Analysts have wondered, however, if similar sanctions against the US against the Chinese companies involved in trade with Iran can be put into practice. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute cited diplomatic and legal issues, especially in the case of China, which helped prop up oil demand during the war.
The developments are coming a day after Washington stepped up its economic pressure on Tehran and Pakistan is trying to put in place a diplomatic track for de-escalation.