Shadow of Ezra(@ShadowofEzra):Aug. 24, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast, threatening to sanction any country doing business with Iran & blow up the financial system. Iran’s trading partners include Russia, China, Gulf states, India and Pakistan. Aug. 25, CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Moscow for meetings. Details of the meeting agenda have not been disclosed. It’s unclear if these two events are related but the timing is curious, particularly since Russia is the only Iran trading partner which is already heavily sanctioned by the US so threats of sanctions may not effect Russia.

2026.08.25 18:02

Aug. 24, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast, threatening to sanction any country doing business with Iran & blow up the financial system. Iran’s trading partners include Russia, China, Gulf states, India and Pakistan. Aug. 25, CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Moscow for meetings. Details of the meeting agenda have not been disclosed. It’s unclear if these two events are related but the timing is curious, particularly since Russia is the only Iran trading partner which is already heavily sanctioned by the US so threats of sanctions may not effect Russia.