US Announces New Sanctions Against Iran
Listen to the story
The United States has announced a large new set of sanctions against Iran, aiming to cut the country off from the world economy.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent made the announcement. The treasury department manages the country's money and financial policies.
Bessent described the new measures as an 'economic onslaught' against Iran's financial connections. An onslaught is a strong, sudden, and forceful attack.
The goal of the sanctions is to isolate Iran, meaning to cut it off from trade and financial links with other nations.
These sanctions are expected to target the ways Iran connects to global banks and businesses, making it harder for the country to trade internationally.
In response, Iran's government has said it will retaliate against countries that cooperate with the United States on this plan.
Retaliation means taking action against someone in response to something they did first. Iran's leaders are warning other nations not to help the US.
This move is part of ongoing tensions between the US and Iran over various issues.
The situation is developing, and more details about the specific sanctions are expected to come from US officials.
Other countries are watching closely to see how this economic pressure campaign will affect Iran and international relations.
The announcement comes amid wider discussions about US foreign policy and how Washington deals with countries it sees as threats.
It is not yet clear how Iran's threat of retaliation will play out in practice.
Vocabulary10 words
- sanctions
- official rules that stop money or trade with a country
- onslaught
- a strong, sudden, forceful attack
- isolate
- to cut something off from other things
- retaliate
- to hit back after someone hits you first
- treasury secretary
- the top government official in charge of money
- financial connections
- money links between countries or businesses
- cooperate
- to work together with someone
- tensions
- difficult, unfriendly feelings between groups
- foreign policy
- how a country deals with other countries
- economic pressure
- using money problems to force change
Quiz
Answer key
1. The US treasury secretary 2. An economic onslaught against Iran's financial connections 3. By vowing to retaliate against cooperating countries
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The United States has announced a large new set of _____ against Iran.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent made the _____.
Bessent described the new measures as an 'economic _____' against Iran's financial connections.
The goal of the sanctions is to _____ Iran from the world economy.
These sanctions are expected to target the ways Iran connects to global banks and _____.
Iran's government has said it will _____ against countries that cooperate with the United States.
Iran's leaders are warning other nations not to _____ with the US.
This move is part of ongoing _____ between the US and Iran.
Other countries are watching closely to see how this economic pressure campaign will affect Iran and international _____.
It is not yet clear how Iran's threat of retaliation will play out in _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the US wants to isolate Iran from the world economy?
- What might happen to countries that continue to work with Iran despite the sanctions?
- Do you think economic sanctions are an effective way to change a country's behavior? Why or why not?
- How might this situation affect ordinary people in Iran?
More Politics stories
Next story · Medium
Jeffries and Kushner Hold Private Meeting Before Midterms