Washington, DC – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent stated that the Iranian leadership’s financial behavior indicates growing anxiety within Tehran’s ruling circles,
emphasizing that there are clear signs of Iranian officials transferring funds abroad at a rapid pace recently.
In a press statement, the Secretary explained that the smuggling and money transfers carried out
by individuals connected to decision-making centers in Iran reflect
a decline in confidence in the internal economic and political situation.
Negative expectations
He added that these movements often indicate negative expectations regarding the country’s future stability.
He noted that the US Treasury Department is closely monitoring the movement of Iranian funds abroad,
in coordination with international partners and financial institutions,
as part of efforts to detect attempts to circumvent sanctions imposed on Tehran
and prevent the use of the global financial system to support activities that Washington considers destabilizing.
The Treasury Secretary stressed that the accelerating outflow of capital from Iran reflects
an awareness within the Iranian leadership that the next phase may witness significant developments, noting that history shows
that ruling elites often try to secure their assets outside the country during times of deep political or economic crisis.
Economic and financial pressure
He added that these moves, from the American perspective, constitute a “good sign” that economic and financial pressure is bearing fruit,
and that the Iranian regime is facing increasing challenges that will be difficult to contain in the near term.
The Treasury Secretary’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran,
and the continuation of stringent US sanctions targeting vital sectors of the Iranian economy,
including energy and banking, as part of US efforts to isolate Iran financially and limit its ability to fund its regional activities.
Observers believe that the US official’s statement reflects Washington’s desire to highlight
the impact of its economic policies on the Iranian domestic scene,
at a time when the country is experiencing increasing living pressures
and a decline in the value of its currency, exacerbating internal discontent and uncertainty about the future.
