The United States announced a new round of sanctions against Iran on Monday, August 24th, aiming for what officials describe as “economic asphyxiation” of the Iranian regime. These sanctions specifically target entities facilitating illicit oil transport and trade. The move represents a further escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran, occurring against a backdrop of a military impasse. While the White House has increased its rhetoric, details regarding the implementation of these indirect sanctions remain unclear. Scott Bessent, Donald Trump’s former Treasury Secretary, publicly stated the goal of economic pressure. Iran has responded by predicting another defeat for the United States, dismissing the sanctions as ineffective. The sanctions signal a continuation of the US’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.