US has entered 'new phase' of economic pressure on Iran: Vance

The United States has shifted its strategy toward Tehran, entering what Vice President JD Vance described as a "new phase" in which economic coercion takes centre stage. In an interview with The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Vance asserted that financial leverage now represents Washington's primary mechanism for compelling change in Iranian behaviour, signalling a departure from earlier approaches.

Energy exports as leverage

Vance emphasised that boosting US energy production could serve a dual purpose: easing domestic fuel costs while simultaneously tightening the squeeze on Iran's economy. "If we can get enough oil and gas out to give some Americans some ease at the pump, some ease on energy prices," he said, it would also "apply a lot of economic pressure" on Tehran and alter its strategic calculations. He acknowledged the strategy involves a "delicate dance," given Iran's capacity to retaliate, but maintained that sustained pressure remains the optimal path forward.

Coordinated international isolation

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced the administration's tough stance, pledging to impose the "toughest sanctions in history" on Iran. "The economic pressure means that we are going to all of our allies, and this is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world," Bessent told CNBC. His remarks followed the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designating 10 additional individuals on its Iran-related sanctions list, underscoring Washington's commitment to broadening the punitive measures.