"We have told countries that if you are buying Iranian oil, that if Iranian money is sitting in your banks, we are now willing to apply secondary sanctions," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ‌told reporters at the White House.

Start writThe United States is discussing a possible second round of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan and is optimistic about reaching a deal, U.S. officials said Wednesday (April 15, 2026), as Tehran threatened to shut down Red Sea trade unless Washington lifted a naval blockade of its ports.

Diplomatic efforts appear to be regaining momentum after an initial round of talks in Pakistan ended without agreement. Officials familiar with the negotiations indicated that both sides are working to finalise a second round, potentially within days.

Trump himself told US media to expect an “amazing two days ahead,” suggesting imminent developments. Vice president JD Vance, who led the previous negotiations, also expressed cautious optimism despite lingering mistrust between Washington and Tehran.

Secondary sanctions are penalties the U.S. can apply not just on Iran‑linked entities, but also on foreign firms or governments that do business with them, potentially cutting them off from the U.S. financial system or limiting their access to dollar‑denominated transactions. Bessent framed this as a “very stern measure” designed to tighten pressure on Tehran’s oil‑revenue base.