[Anchor]

The United States has announced high-intensity economic sanctions, including tariffs on third-party countries trading with Iran. Iran responded with confidence, stating it has been prepared for a long time.

Reporting from Washington by correspondent Lee Hanseok.

[Reporter]

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has unveiled a new sanctions card targeting the Iranian regime, dubbed an economic bullying operation.

To block Iran's core funding sources, including oil smuggling and sanctions evasion networks, more than 60 entities, individuals, and vessels worldwide have been placed on the sanctions list.

In particular, secondary sanctions will be imposed, applying tariffs even to third-country companies or nations that trade with Iran in major sectors such as digital assets, gold, aviation, and maritime shipping.

The move aims to completely choke off Iran's financial lifelines by blocking access to the U.S. dollar-based payment system.

[Scott Bessent / U.S. Treasury Secretary : Let me be clear: any entity facilitating money laundering on behalf of Iran will be cut off from the U.S. dollar system.]

When asked whether China—Iran's largest export and import partner—was included in the measures, Secretary Bessent did not directly mention China, but stated that no one can escape the reach of U.S. sanctions.

In response, Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs Ali Madanizadeh hit back, saying that the United States cannot sever Iran's economic arteries and noting that the country possesses a two-year plan prepared to counter U.S. sanctions.

Meanwhile, Iran has blacklisted 45 vessels for violating transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz, including five ships owned by South Korea's Sinokor Merchant Marine, and warned that it could impose fines or seize cargo.

Amid these developments, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke over the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, engaging in close discussions on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, Korean Peninsula issues, and the situation in the Middle East.

Minister Cho emphasized the importance of prior coordination between Seoul and Washington in the process of pushing to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue, and expressed intentions to make practical contributions toward freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

(Camera: Oh Jung-sik | Video Editing: Chae Chul-ho)