Russia’s surprise return to a G20 finance meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, this week laid bare a widening rift.

European attendees openly scorned the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, who attended at the invitation of the Trump administration—the first in-person Russian participation since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil called the signal “quite troubling” and insisted “you cannot simply return to normality.” European officials refused […]

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So Iran Closes the Strait of Hormuz, Let’s See What Bessent’s Economic Isolation of Iran Could Look Like

As the Iran-U.S. conflict grinds toward the six-month mark in mid-August 2026, Tehran continues to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz—the critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG once flowed—while the United States maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports and escalates economic pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has signaled […]

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Treasury Sanctions Crypto Exchanges Funding Iran’s IRGC and Enabling Illicit Finance – Secretary Scott Bessent Locking Funding Down

On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sweeping sanctions targeting digital asset exchanges and networks used by the Iranian regime to launder funds, evade sanctions, and support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other terrorist groups. The action hits two major platforms exploited by […]

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Is Secretary Bessent Merging the Petrodollar with Argentina-Style Dollar Domination?

In a landmark testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and follow-up statements, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has outlined a bold new strategy: expanding permanent dollar swap facilities with Gulf and Asian allies to reinforce U.S. dollar dominance amid global energy shocks. This comes as the traditional petrodollar framework—anchored by a 50-year arrangement with Saudi […]

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Secretary Scott Bessent has levers he can still pull to keep oil prices stable for a few weeks – Key Points from his Interview on Fox

As the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran roils global energy markets and pushes benchmark crude above $100 per barrel at times, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is wielding sanctions policy like a supply-side tool. With the Strait of Hormuz under pressure and Iranian exports partially disrupted, Bessent has already pulled several levers — temporary Russian oil sanctions […]

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Two Oil Tankers Seen at Kharg after U.S. Strikes, Satellite Firm Confirms

By Stuart Turley, Energy News Beat In a development that underscores the resilience of Iran\’s oil infrastructure amid escalating geopolitical tensions, satellite imagery has confirmed the presence of two oil tankers at Kharg Island, Iran\’s primary oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf. This sighting comes just hours after U.S. precision strikes targeted military installations […]

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Starmer to Trump: \”You Have No Plan.\” Trump Replies: \”Have You Been Following Venezuela\’s Story?\”

In a heated exchange during a recent G7 summit video call, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer challenged U.S. President Donald Trump on his approach to Middle East policy, particularly regarding Iran\’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence. Starmer, echoing concerns from European allies, accused Trump of lacking a coherent strategy: \”You have no plan beyond bluster […]

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