US expands secondary sanctions targeting Iran's digital assets, gold, technology, aviation and shipping

The United States will broaden its secondary-sanctions program to punish foreign firms and governments that engage with Iran, Treasury officials said. The measures will target five sectors the administration described as Iran’s “most vital lifelines”: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping.

Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder and CEO of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, argued that those sectors are essential for ordinary Iranians, not the regime. > “Digital assets and gold are how ordinary Iranians protect their savings from inflation,” he wrote on X. > “Technology keeps Iranians connected with the world. Aviation keeps Iranian families connected with loved ones across borders. Shipping is how essential goods, including food and medicine, reach Iran.”

The sanctions follow a shift in U.S. strategy that emphasizes economic pressure over direct military action. The Treasury Department declined to comment.

Iran’s economy, already weakened by a naval blockade and war-related disruptions, is experiencing severe inflation—over 80%—and a sharp depreciation of its currency. The International Monetary Fund projected a 6.1% contraction for the year, while a labor ministry official estimated that more than one million jobs have been lost.

The blockade has limited oil exports and prevented imports of refined fuel, creating shortages at gas stations. The government has resisted raising fuel prices to avoid further public unrest.

Amid the hardship, modest protests have erupted, including a strike by oil and gas workers in Asaluyeh and demonstrations by laid-off steel and petrochemical workers.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that military strength alone cannot sustain the country if citizens face hunger and economic stagnation. Experts note that the regime may endure prolonged hardship, but officials acknowledge the growing strain on the population.