US Treasury Secretary: We held good talks with China regarding financial ties with Iran

Washington, Sept. 15 (KUNA) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that Washington had held “good” discussions with China over the financial links that fund the Iranian regime, as part of the United States’ efforts to tighten economic pressure on Tehran.

Speaking at a congressional hearing, Bessent said, “We have had good, private discussions with China regarding the sanctions file on Iran,” adding that he would meet with his Chinese counterpart, He Lifeng, this weekend to hold talks on the matter.

He noted that U.S. warnings about the risks of dealing with the Iranian regime “have been received and taken into account,” clarifying that the issue of economic sanctions on Iran would be discussed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington alongside President Donald Trump later this month.

President Xi is expected to visit Washington on September 24, where he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Washington launched “Operation Economic Outcast” on August 24 last year, a campaign aimed at cutting off the financial and trade channels on which Iran relies and tightening sanctions on entities that help it circumvent sanctions or generate revenue. The campaign includes expanding secondary sanctions, threatening entities that continue to deal with Iran with exclusion from the dollar-based financial system. (End) A.M.M. / A.M.H.