US to Intensify Efforts to Isolate Iran Economically at G20 Meeting

Kathmandu. The United States is preparing to intensify its campaign to isolate Iran economically at the upcoming G20 meeting next week and urge member nations to comply with US sanctions. US officials have stated that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will also pressure this issue during bilateral meetings with his counterparts. The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will gather in Asheville, North Carolina, on Monday and Tuesday. This first major ministerial meeting of the year will also lay the groundwork for the G20 leaders' summit in Florida in December. The US, which is increasing pressure on Iran due to the ongoing war in West Asia, will seek member nations' cooperation in implementing sanctions at the meeting. Bessent has already warned that countries failing to participate in the campaign against Iran will face serious consequences, including secondary sanctions. However, including China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, in the US campaign appears challenging for Washington. This issue has become sensitive, especially before the expected summit talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in September. Meanwhile, discussions will also be held at the meeting on economic growth, excess industrial capacity, and building reliable supply chains for important resources including energy. Analysts expect the US to focus more on debt, trade, financial stability, and banking regulations rather than issues like climate change and global health. Josh Lipsky, Director of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center, stated that the G20 meeting is taking place at a challenging time due to the rising level of US debt, the Trump administration's broad tariffs, and US-Canada trade tensions. He also pointed out the risk that cooperation among G20 members could weaken due to US pressure and sanctions. The G20 includes 19 nations along with the European Union and the African Union. The group, established with the aim of promoting global economic and financial stability, has excluded South Africa this year under the US presidency, while Poland has been included in the meeting.