US-Iran Economic War Escalates as Risks to Oil Supply and US Inflation Rise

Daily News

Summary:

Iran condemns new US sanctions; the United States approves the early sale of winter-grade gasoline to ease pressure on fuel prices...

【Highlights】

1. Iran condemns new US sanctions, saying it will defend its national interests.

2. US Treasury Secretary Bessent threatens unprecedented economic isolation of Iran.

3. Kremlin says there is little reason for optimism over a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

4. Bessent: The US Treasury’s accelerated Treasury buybacks could exceed $4 billion.

5. The United States approves the early sale of winter-grade gasoline to ease fuel price pressures.

6. Iranian official: Iran plans to attack crude oil export facilities in an effort to hurt Trump ahead of the US midterm elections.

【Details】

Iran Condemns New US Sanctions, Says It Will Defend Its National Interests

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on August 20 strongly condemning the new economic and trade sanctions imposed by the United States, saying that Iran would use every available tool and capability to defend its national interests and the legitimate rights of the Iranian people. The statement said the large-scale economic and trade sanctions announced by the United States violate the basic human rights of Iranian citizens, constitute economic terrorism and crimes against humanity, violate the principle of respect for national sovereignty, and undermine fundamental principles of international law.

The statement said the sanctions were imposed after the US and Israel failed to achieve their objectives in the war against Iran and were intended to force the Iranian people to submit. It said the measures would not undermine the Iranian people’s determination to defend their national independence, dignity, and sovereignty.

Iran described sanctions and economic pressure as the other side of the same coin as war and military aggression. The statement said the new US sanctions represent a continuation of a policy that has already been tested and failed, and that repeating the policy would only lead to the same outcome. Iran will rely on its own capabilities and its experience in dealing with decades of US pressure, using every available tool and capability to defend its national interests and the legitimate rights of the Iranian people.

US Treasury Secretary Threatens Unprecedented Economic Isolation of Iran

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on August 20 that the Trump administration would increase economic pressure on Iran and threatened to impose unprecedented economic isolation on the country. In an interview with NBC, Bessent said the campaign would be the largest and most coordinated economic isolation effort in history.

He said he would hold a press conference on August 24 to provide details of the measures. Bessent also called on all US allies to support Washington, saying, “We want to overthrow this regime,” and warning that countries must either stand with the United States or stand against it. Bessent said the Trump administration’s plan to severely weaken Iran’s economy could reduce the need for the United States to launch another large-scale military operation against Tehran.

Kremlin Says There Is Little Reason for Optimism Over a Peaceful Resolution to the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on August 20 that there is currently little reason for optimism about a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict because of Ukraine’s position, and that the special military operation is continuing.

At a press conference, Peskov said countries including the United Kingdom were continuing to push Europe to maintain the war with Russia while increasing their involvement in areas such as technology and even seeking to become directly involved.

Regarding a potential visit to Russia by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Peskov said the US envoy was still occupied with other diplomatic matters and that no date had yet been set for the visit.

Bessent: US Treasury’s Accelerated Buybacks Could Exceed $4 Billion

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Treasury Department’s accelerated Treasury buyback program could exceed the previously announced $4 billion. Bessent emphasized that the Treasury has a powerful and sufficiently broad toolkit for managing the Treasury market.

Earlier data released by the Treasury Department showed that total US government debt had surpassed $40 trillion this week. Bessent said there was nothing “magical” about the $40 trillion figure and that the United States could grow its way out of the problem. He said the message the US was sending to its allies and trading partners was that global economic growth is the solution to the country’s enormous debt burden.

US Approves Early Sale of Winter-Grade Gasoline to Ease Fuel Price Pressures

The Trump administration has authorized the early sale of winter-grade gasoline as its latest measure to ease rising fuel costs and supply concerns stemming from the war with Iran.

The US Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it would relax summer gasoline requirements, allowing the market to switch to winter-grade gasoline, which has higher allowable emissions, earlier than usual. Under normal circumstances, the seasonal transition would not take place until around mid-September.

The waiver allows gasoline containing 10% ethanol to be sold beginning September 1. The US government said the move would effectively bring forward the end of the summer gasoline requirements, potentially increasing domestic gasoline supplies by several hundred thousand barrels per day and further easing price pressures faced by US consumers at the pump.

Iranian Official: Iran Plans to Attack Crude Oil Export Facilities to Hurt Trump Ahead of Midterm Elections

A senior Iranian official said Tehran is planning to wage economic warfare, including attacks on oil export infrastructure in the Gulf, with the aim of driving up US gasoline prices and weakening support for Trump’s party ahead of the US midterm elections in November.

According to the official, the targets would include two major alternative routes used by shipping companies seeking to avoid the Strait of Hormuz: Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu oil pipeline and the UAE’s Fujairah oil terminal. Together, the two facilities handle approximately 5.5 million barrels of oil per day.

If Iran were also to cut off the roughly 5 million barrels per day currently transported through the Strait of Hormuz by the US-backed shadow fleet, a successful operation could significantly reduce alternative transportation capacity. These routes have helped maintain part of the Gulf’s oil exports amid the broader blockade.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent said the United States would impose the toughest sanctions ever placed on Iran, suggesting that Washington would rely primarily on economic measures to reduce the need for another large-scale military operation against Tehran. Bessent said more details would be announced next Monday.

Regarding commercial ties between China and Iran, Bessent said that 50% of China’s energy supplies come from the Gulf and argued that cooperating with US sanctions would therefore be in China’s own interests.

【Today’s Key Events】

15:15 (UTC+8) France August Manufacturing PMI, Preliminary

15:30 (UTC+8) Germany August Manufacturing PMI, Preliminary

16:00 (UTC+8) Eurozone August Manufacturing PMI, Preliminary

16:30 (UTC+8) UK August Manufacturing PMI, Preliminary

21:45 (UTC+8) US August S&P Global Manufacturing PMI, Preliminary

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