US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned allies that they are either “with us or against us” on economically isolating Iran, after President Donald Trump announced a new push on that front, AFP reports.

“This is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world. And we are going to them and saying you are either with us or against us,” Bessent tells US broadcaster CNBC of his message to allies.

On whether the United States would pressure China, he said “many conversations are best to have in private,” but called on Beijing “to get with the programme”.

Furthermore, Bessent states that the plan to sharply increase sanctions on Iran will “collapse” the country’s government.

“It is going to work in Iran and we are going to collapse this regime,” he says. “This is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world.”