US to pressure Iran at G20 finance talks in North Carolina

Finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 will meet in Asheville, North Carolina, on Monday and Tuesday to discuss global economic stability. US Treasury officials plan to use the forum to press members to enforce existing sanctions on Iran and consider new measures, a senior official said.

US agenda at the G20 finance meeting

The United States, led by President Donald Trump, wants the group to demonstrate a unified stance on Tehran amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Treasury official, identified as Bessent, said he will make direct appeals in bilateral talks, though he did not disclose which counterparts will be involved.

Bessent has laid out plans to isolate Iran economically, widening secondary sanctions threats and warning of dire consequences for countries that fail to join the campaign.

In addition to the Iran focus, US delegates will raise issues such as excess industrial capacity, supply‑chain resilience for energy and critical minerals, and the need for stronger growth policies.

Implications for Iran and the broader G20

The move could force countries that trade with Tehran, notably China, to choose between lucrative oil purchases and the risk of secondary sanctions. Analysts note that any escalation will test the resolve of members such as the European Union and the African Union, especially after the United States excluded South Africa and invited Poland to sit at the table.

Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, said the meeting will likely centre on “debt, trade, financial stability and banking regulation”. He added that the broader challenge is keeping the G20 together amid divergent national interests.

Looking ahead to the leaders summit

What happens in Asheville will set the tone for the December summit in Florida, where President Trump will host heads of state. If the US succeeds in rallying support for tougher Iran sanctions, Tehran could face deeper economic isolation, potentially driving it closer to China ahead of President Trump’s expected September meeting with Xi Jinping. Conversely, a split over sanctions could expose fractures within the G20, affecting cooperation on trade, climate and health issues.

With the US also navigating a trade dispute with Canada and domestic debt worries, the outcome of the finance talks will be a bellwether for the administration’s ability to shape global economic policy in a turbulent year.