What are the key economic measures announced by the Trump administration against Iran, and what broader geopolitical risks do they entail?

The Trump administration is escalating an 'economic war' on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent set to announce 'even more severe measures' targeting a country already under near-continuous sanctions since 1979; Trump has warned sanctions will also hit any country aiding Iran—though notably omitting Russia and China—raising questions about credibility, while Iran has vowed to shut down all Gulf oil exports in retaliation, heightening fears of attacks on regional energy infrastructure and signaling that the shift to sanctions reflects an admission that military action has failed and the conflict may drag on indefinitely.

How does the Treasury's bond buyback plan conflict with the Federal Reserve's monetary policy stance, and why is it viewed as ineffective?

Treasury Secretary Bessent's 'double buyback plan' for bonds has had limited success in calming the Treasury market, with 30-year yields near a 19-year peak at 5.3371%, because buybacks merely swap longer-dated debt for shorter-dated paper—often at higher yields—and fail to address the underlying problems of rising debt and deficits; this effort to loosen financial conditions clashes with Fed Chair Warsh's apparent reliance on the bond market to tighten policy instead of raising the cash rate, which he may avoid to sidestep Trump's political ire.

Mixing economic wars, trade wars and actual wars

Aug 23, 2026

Global markets reacted nervously to a 1.5% drop in oil prices driven by US sanctions on Iran and threats to Gulf energy infrastructure. Investors also weigh Treasury bond policies and Nvidia earnings amidst rising geopolitical tensions.

reuters

2026-06-02

Oil Prices Rise, But Not by Enough to Drag Wall Street Far Off Its Records

2026-08-11

Morning Bid: Long bond bother

2026-08-23

Mixing economic wars, trade wars and actual wars

2026-08-24

Asia Shares Fall on Tech Nerves; Oil Prices Slip

2026-08-25

Morning Bid: Economic Salvos