Here are some of Trump’s options as he prepares to increase economic pressure on Iran

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington will impose measures on Iran "never been seen" as early as next week, following OFAC sanctions on more than 1,000 people, vessels and aircraft since Trump's second term began.

Original report
www.jpost.com

Industry impact

Widening sanctions and naval blockades in the Strait of Hormuz show how energy-market pressure campaigns increasingly rely on secondary sanctions against third-country banks and refiners rather than direct measures alone.

What happened

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States will impose measures on Iran that have "never been seen" as early as next week, with a press conference scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT on Monday. Since President Donald Trump began his second term, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned more than 1,000 people, vessels and aircraft.

Recent OFAC measures have targeted Iran's shadow oil fleet, shipping insurers, entities enabling Iran's weapons acquisition, and digital exchanges, freezing an estimated $500 billion in Iran-linked cryptocurrency. A naval blockade has been imposed in the Strait of Hormuz, where oil shipments are at a virtual standstill. OFAC has already imposed secondary sanctions on smaller China- and Hong Kong-based entities accused of processing billions of dollars in Iranian oil, and the Treasury Department has warned two larger, unnamed Chinese banks they could face secondary sanctions if Iranian funds were found moving through them.

Chinese independent refineries known as "teapots" account for a quarter of China's refinery capacity, and China buys more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler. Brett Erickson, managing principal of Obsidian Risk Advisors, described sanctions-evasion enforcement as a "whack-a-mole" approach, since Iran creates new entities to replace those sanctioned. Sanctions expert Miad Maleki of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said Bessent was likely signaling a sharpened enforcement push against oil shippers, purchasers and currency exchangers. Some U.S. and Israeli officials have floated a land blockade requiring cooperation from Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill including new Iran sanctions and tariff powers that still needs House passage.

Who this affects

• Aviation Insurance Companies — Coverage decisions near the Strait of Hormuz face added scrutiny as the naval blockade persists and sanctions on shipping insurers widen.
• Aviation Associations — Trade groups face growing compliance-guidance demands as OFAC sanctions expand to more aircraft, individuals and entities linked to Iran.