Iran Must Fully Comply With Any Deal, US Treasury Secretary Says

WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has outlined three possible outcomes Washington is seeking through its pressure campaign against Iran, including Tehran agreeing to a deal and fully complying with its commitments.

Speaking to Fox News, Bessent said the US pressure campaign was aimed at forcing changes in Iran’s conduct while maintaining economic pressure on the country’s financial networks. Fox News reported that Bessent identified three possible ways the conflict could end: divisions within Iran’s leadership, an uprising by the Iranian people, or Tehran returning to negotiations and adhering to any agreement reached.

According to Bessent, one possible outcome would be increasing divisions within Iran’s leadership.

The second would involve an uprising or protest movement by the Iranian public.

The third would be Iran returning to negotiations and, if an agreement is reached, fully complying with the terms of the deal.

Bessent stressed that Washington wants Tehran to remain committed to any obligations it accepts through negotiations.

The Treasury secretary also said the United States would continue targeting Iranian financial networks and entities involved in supporting Tehran.

He warned financial institutions, investors and businesses dealing with Iran that Washington would continue its sanctions campaign.

Bessent said the administration was seeking to cut off what he described as Iran’s financial lifelines through a broad economic pressure campaign.

Bessent also said that more than 80 to 90 percent of external flights involving Iran had been disrupted following US restrictions on Iranian airlines.

He questioned how Iranian officials attending the United Nations General Assembly would return home, according to Fox News.

His comments came as diplomatic efforts surrounding the US-Iran conflict continued at the United Nations, with Tehran and Washington maintaining significant differences over the terms of any potential settlement.