New US Sanctions Target Ordinary Iranians Through Humanitarian Cuts

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) warns that these measures move beyond state-level pressure, acting as a form of collective punishment. The administration has revoked key exemptions that previously allowed Iranian Americans to send personal remittances to family, permitted universities to enroll students from Iran, and facilitated bilateral sports exchanges. NIAC policy director Ryan Costello described the shift as a radical revision that abandons smarter, targeted sanctions in favor of blunt, punitive restrictions on everyday life.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the move, stating the government is launching an economic onslaught to sever every lifeline sustaining the regime in Tehran. He added that the administration has issued a strict timeline for countries to comply with these global financial restrictions. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the policy as a violation of international law and the UN Charter, arguing that such measures force nations to choose between obeying Washington or facing economic vengeance. The escalation follows months of ongoing conflict between the US and Iranian leadership, deepening the isolation of the Iranian public while leaving the regime's elite largely untouched.