Business

Scott Bessent says US seized roughly $1 billion in Iranian crypto assets

Published

2 weeks ago

30 May 2026

Bessent disputes Iran $14B sanctions claim as DNC talking point

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent details the United States’ economic pressure campaign on Iran, known as Operation Economic Fury, on ‘Kudlow.’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Iranian economy is nearing a breaking point Friday, while announcing that the U.S. has seized roughly $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets.

“We have seized about a billion dollars of their crypto,” he told FOX Business. “Just outright grabbed the wallets.”

Joining “Kudlow” at the Reagan National Economic Forum, Bessent detailed the United States’ economic pressure campaign on Iran, known as “Operation Economic Fury,” which he said has sent the regime into “crisis.”

“I think between five and a half-six weeks of an incredibly successful military campaign and then Operation Economic Fury, where we have really cut them off…they are at the end of their tether now financially,” he said.

TRUMP’S IRAN CRACKDOWN ‘SUFFOCATING’ REGIME AS OIL WELLS COULD SHUT WITHIN DAYS, BESSENT SAYS

Bessent said roughly $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets has been seized by the U.S. Treasury Department. (Getty Images)

“I think 40 or 50% of the [Iranian] troops aren’t getting paid. Police aren’t reporting to the station. Inflation is probably over 200%. They’re having to give out food vouchers. They have turned off the internet.”

The effort, launched in March 2025, has crippled Tehran’s financial lifelines by seizing Iranian assets, freezing bank accounts and pressuring foreign governments to cut ties with the nation.

“We are working with our allies all over Europe to grab villas and houses and properties,” Bessent explained. “And this is money that’s stolen from the Iranian people.”

Bessent said the Iranian regime was siphoning $400 to $500 million every month and dividing the profits amongst dozens of leaders, before the Treasury Department intervened.

TRUMP CLAIMS IRAN ‘STARVING FOR CASH,’ ‘COLLAPSING FINANCIALLY’ AFTER EXTENDING CEASEFIRE

President Donald Trump speaks alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the White House Digital Assets Summit at the White House on March 07, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The Treasury secretary went on to address ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, highlighting the differences between the factions involved in the talks. President Donald Trump held a White House meeting Friday where he said he would make a “final determination” on Iran.

“We did not have regime change, but we changed the regime,” Bessent said. “The first level leaders were decapitated, the second level decapitated. So, we’re dealing with the third level.”

TRUMP SAYS IRAN’S SUCCESSION BENCH WIPED OUT AS ISRAELI STRIKE HITS LEADERSHIP DELIBERATIONS

“And it’s very tough because, on one side, we have a theocracy with the clerics. On the other side, we have a thug autocracy with the IRGC. And you’ve got to convince both sides,” he added.

Bessent also spoke about the “very big” mistake Iran made by attacking countries in the Persian Gulf, which he argued left the regime more vulnerable.

Fox News senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane (ret.) joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to assess US strikes on Iran, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and President Donald Trump’s next move.

The IRGC has launched drone and missile attacks against all six GCC states.

IRAN IS ‘TRYING TO GIVE THE GLOBAL ECONOMY A HEART ATTACK’ BY CLOSING STRAIT OF HORMUZ, UAE MINISTER SAYS

“They made my job so much easier because before, many of our great GCC Gulf allies were a little less than transparent about their banking system, that, ‘Oh no, we don’t have any Iranian oil,’” Bessent said.

The Treasury secretary added that after the Iranian strikes, GCC states were more open to disclosing ties to Iranian-supplied oil.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent listens on the set of "FOX & Friends" at Fox News.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visits “FOX & Friends” at Fox News Channel Studios on November 12, 2025, in New York City. (John Lamparski/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Bessent also said that young U.S. service members enjoy enforcing the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.

“They’ve done an incredible job,” he told FOX Business. “When I talked to General Caine and Secretary Hegseth, they said, ‘Look, these young people aren’t afraid. They want to fight… This is what they signed up for.’”

Business

Roku exploring strategic options, including sale of company, sources say

Published

11 seconds ago

13 June 2026

NewsAdmin

Roku exploring strategic options, including sale of company, sources say

Business

ASML: The Rally May Be Overdone

Published

7 minutes ago

13 June 2026

NewsAdmin

ASML: The Rally May Be Overdone

Business

Zuckerberg admits Meta has ‘made mistakes’ in AI workforce overhaul: report

Published

13 minutes ago

13 June 2026

NewsAdmin

Zuckerberg links Meta layoffs to AI spending, won't rule out more cuts

Meta President Dina Powell McCormick and CEO of mikeroweWORKS Foundation Mike Rowe join ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss a new $115 million workforce initiative offering free training and guaranteed skilled-trade jobs.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged Friday that the company has “made mistakes” as it undergoes a sweeping workforce overhaul tied to its aggressive push into artificial intelligence (AI).

Zuckerberg made the remarks in an internal memo to employees, according to Reuters, which reported that the Meta chief warned of challenges associated with the rapid development of AI technology.

Meta has poured billions of dollars into AI infrastructure and tools as it competes with OpenAI, Google and Microsoft for dominance in the emerging technology.

The company has also explored ways to use AI agents to perform tasks currently handled by employees.

MARK ZUCKERBERG SAYS META HAS ‘MADE MISTAKES’ DURING ITS AI-DRIVEN WORKFORCE OVERHAUL, WARNING OF CHALLENGES TIED TO THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company has “made mistakes” as it restructures its workforce around artificial intelligence. (Alex Wong/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Given the complexity of these changes, we’ve made mistakes and will almost certainly make more,” Zuckerberg said.

He added that he is “focused on providing as much stability as possible” as the company continues to reshape its workforce.

“I don’t want to overpromise because the world is changing in ways that are out of our control,” Zuckerberg said.

META LAUNCHES $115M SKILLED TRADES ACADEMY WITH GUARANTEED JOBS FOR GRADUATES IN 4 STATES

Meta has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence as it seeks to compete with OpenAI, Google and Microsoft. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

He also reiterated that Meta does not expect any additional company-wide layoffs this year.

The comments come after Meta laid off roughly 10% of its global workforce in May and reassigned approximately 7,000 employees to AI-focused initiatives.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
META	META PLATFORMS INC.	566.98	-1.45	-0.26%

Zuckerberg reportedly said the company will attempt to find new positions for employees reassigned to train AI models.

AMERICA CAN’T COMPETE WITH CHINA IN AI WITHOUT THESE WORKERS, META’S PRESIDENT SAYS

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg listens during a White House dinner.

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., during a dinner with tech leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Sept. 4, 2025. (Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images, File / Getty Images)

Published

49 minutes ago

13 June 2026

NewsAdmin

Frozen pizza snack recalled in 21 states over possible metal pieces

‘Barron’s Roundtable’ panelists break down the Magnificent Seven and other stocks gaining traction.

Thousands of cases of a frozen pizza snack sold in 21 states are being recalled because they may contain metal pieces.

Rich Products Corp. voluntarily issued the recall of 6,408 cases or more than 160,000 pounds of its Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The pizza was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

FORD RECALLS MORE THAN 255,000 VEHICLES OVER ENGINE STALL RISK

Thousands of cases of a frozen pizza snack sold in 21 states are being recalled because it may contain metal pieces. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The recall was initiated by the New York-based company on May 19.

The product has a best-by date of July 7, 2027, with a UPC code of 041322652256 and a lot number of 003029976.

MORE THAN 17K COFFEE MAKERS RECALLED AFTER DOZENS OF REPORTED BURN INJURIES.

The FDA classified the recall as a Class II health risk, which means the defect could cause temporary or medically reversible health problems.

The agency didn’t specify if any injuries had been reported or how the possible contamination was discovered.

Rich Products Corp. voluntarily issued the recall of 6,408 cases or more than 160,000 pounds of its Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (farmrich.com / Unknown)

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The recall comes weeks after another frozen pizza recall over salmonella concerns.

WHITE OAK, MD – JULY 20: A sign for the Food And Drug Administration is seen outside of the headquarters on July 20, 2020, in White Oak, Maryland. ((Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) / AP Newsroom)

The pizzas, which spanned several brands, had been sold at Walmart and Aldi.