The United States is turning up the heat on Iran. The U.S. Treasury Department is working hard to stop Iran from moving money around the world.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been talking directly to big bank leaders. He wants them to be very careful about who they do business with. The goal is to make sure no one is accidentally helping Iran break rules or move money it shouldn't be.

To make this happen, the U.S. government is taking a few big steps:

1. A New Tip Line: The Treasury has started a special way for people to report secrets. If someone knows how Iran is moving money, they can now send that information to the government easily.

2. New Sanctions: The U.S. has added a cargo company based in Turkey to its official list of people and groups that cannot do business with America. This company is accused of helping Iran's shipping efforts.

3. More Global Cooperation: Officials are meeting with banks and financial leaders from all over the world. They want to make sure everyone is on the same page and watching Iran’s money moves closely.

At the same time, the pressure is being felt by airlines. Mahan Air, a major Iranian airline, has decided to stop flying to Istanbul, Ankara, and Muscat. While the company didn't give a specific reason, these moves come as the walls are closing in on Iran’s ability to conduct normal business abroad.

The U.S. says these steps are necessary to stop Iran from funding activities that the government believes are dangerous. For now, banks and businesses around the world are paying close attention to these new rules to avoid getting in trouble with the U.S.

Source: thestreet.com