By Sumayya
WASHINGTON, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that more than 80 to 90 percent of flights departing Iran for foreign destinations had been suspended, adding, “I wonder how the Iranian delegation at the United Nations in New York will return.” In an interview with Fox news, Bessent outlined 3 possible objectives of the Trump administration’s strategy toward Iran.
He said the United States was imposing strict sanctions as part of its economic pressure campaign against Iran, adding that Iranians had never seen sanctions this severe before. The economic sanctions were affecting Iran’s international flights, and the economic pressure on Iran could continue for weeks or months. Regarding reports that tankers linked to Iran were being targeted, the US Treasury secretary said most of them were traveling normally.
Warning Iran’s financial backers, Bessent said the United States would take daily and weekly action against their companies and bank accounts, and would continue targeting Iran’s financial network. Explaining the broader objectives of pressuring the Iranian government, Bessent said there could be 3 possible outcomes.
He said the first objective was to create divisions within the Iranian government, the second was to trigger some form of uprising by the Iranian people, and the third was to persuade Iran to honor an agreement if it wanted to reach one. Meanwhile, US international affairs experts said heads of state and delegations attending the United Nations General Assembly enjoy immunity under international law.
They warned that any attempt by the US government to stop the Iranian president’s aircraft or delegation would create a serious international crisis. They said the US administration should act prudently, warning that the consequences of any such action would be extremely severe.
They added that the anti-US global bloc would more forcefully renew its demand to move the UN headquarters outside the United States. They advised the Trump administration not to make further mistakes or become involved in any attempt to stop the Iranian president and his delegation, and to respect international law by ensuring their departure as scheduled
