NEW: The United States is targeting Iran’s sanctions-evasion networks to deepen Iran’s economic isolation and strengthen international sanctions enforcement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast on August 24 aimed to “foreclose every other [financial] option available to the Iranian regime.” Bessent added that US officials are engaging with their international counterparts to emphasize that every country has a defined timeline to shut down problematic activities with Iran that the US Treasury has identified. These economic steps come as the Iranian economy continues to deteriorate. (1/2) Other Key Takeaways: The Iranian regime is attempting to find routes

NEW: The United States is targeting Iran’s sanctions-evasion networks to deepen Iran’s economic isolation and strengthen international sanctions enforcement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast on August 24 aimed to “foreclose every other [financial] option available to the Iranian regime.” Bessent added that US officials are engaging with their international counterparts to emphasize that every country has a defined timeline to shut down problematic activities with Iran that the US Treasury has identified. These economic steps come as the Iranian economy continues to deteriorate. (1/2)

Other Key Takeaways:

The Iranian regime is attempting to find routes to alleviate economic pain while simultaneously trying to deter and prepare for potential social unrest in response to compounding economic pressure.

Regime officials and outlets are issuing threats against foreign states, likely to deter them from complying with the US economic campaign against Iran.

The Iraqi federal government and some Iranian-backed militias are likely attempting to reach an agreement to integrate militia elements operating outside the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) into recognized PMF units.

The Houthis struck a Saudi oil tanker roughly 950 kilometers north of Yemen in the northern Red Sea on August 24. The strike demonstrates the Houthi ability to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) further than 500km, assuming the Houthi claim is accurate. ISW-CTP has not observed any open-source reporting that confirms that the Houthis possess an ASBM with a range exceeding 500 kilometers.