Asked which world leaders Donald Trump has called about the new raft of sanction threats, treasury secretary Scott Bessent says he is “not going to name names”.
He also declines to say what is being asked of those world leaders.
“I would expect that if, very quickly, if they do not respond, then they will see the ramifications of their actions.”
Asked what the timelines being set by the president were, he declines to answer.
Answering a separate question, he says: “No one is above the reach of US sanctions.
“When the hammer of US treasury actions falls upon them, they will have no one to blame but themselves.”
He calls the campaign “economic asphyxiation of the regime”.
“I expect that you will see a major announcement of a financial institution being sanctioned by the end of this week.”