• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns Iranian leaders are moving tens of millions of dollars out of the country amid massive protests and economic collapse.
  • The US imposes new sanctions on Iranian officials for protest crackdowns and money laundering, tracking elite capital flight.
  • Protests triggered by the rial's record plunge have escalated into nationwide unrest, with estimates of up to 12,000 deaths, challenging the regime's stability.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on January 15, 2026, that Iranian leaders are wiring tens of millions of dollars out of the country "like rats fleeing the ship," according to people familiar with the matter. This stark warning comes as the US intensifies its "maximum pressure" campaign under President Trump, targeting regime officials amid fears of instability.

Protests erupted in late December 2025 over the Iranian rial's record plunge and soaring prices, quickly escalating into nationwide unrest that some analysts describe as the most significant challenge to the regime since the 1979 Revolution. The government's violent crackdown has led to at least 2,615 confirmed deaths, including 153 security forces, though estimates from opposition sources reach as high as 12,000, according to HRANA, a human rights group monitoring the situation. Efforts to quell the unrest have hit a snag, with Israeli intelligence reporting that protesters have killed hundreds of security personnel in recent clashes.

Bessent's remarks signal a direct US effort to undermine the regime's financial resilience. "We are tracking these funds, and leaders should stand with the people," he said, urging transparency in a statement that blended formal reporting with a slightly more conversational tone. The Treasury Department has sanctioned five officials, including the Supreme Council for National Security Secretary and IRGC commanders, on January 15, plus 18 others for laundering oil proceeds. Without a deal to address the economic crisis, the company—or in this case, the regime—would be forced into bankruptcy, experts warn.

On January 30, the US extended pressure with additional sanctions targeting Iran's interior minister and others, accusing them of protest atrocities and terrorism ties. These moves aim to cripple "shadow banking" networks that evade oil sale restrictions, impacting global petrochemical markets. European officials, speaking anonymously, cite possible US military action within 24 hours as of January 15, with Trump threatening intervention if violence continues. This heightens tensions, risking regional conflict and potential oil price spikes.

Internally, the regime faces total financial collapse from Trump's campaign, which has slashed oil exports to near zero, worsening inflation and the currency crisis. Iranian families are bearing the brunt, while elite capital flight drains resources. Stakeholders include oppressed civilians, whom the US has backed in statements, and global banks receiving funds, now at risk of seizure under new sanctions. Public reactions have fueled opposition media like Iran International, amplifying calls for freedom.

Historical context shows this unrest stems from clerical rule established in 1979, with current protests echoing but dwarfing the 2019 fuel protests and 2022 Mahsa Amini uprising due to compounded sanctions since Trump's 2018 JCPOA exit. Precedents include Saddam Hussein's 2003 fall amid US pressure, though Iran's proxy networks complicate direct parallels. In the short term, a US military strike remains possible if violence persists, per Trump and European reports. Long-term, regime collapse could follow if protests sustain and funds dry up, enabling opposition groups. The US vows asset seizures, with experts seeing Trump's "endgame" nearing, though Iranian resilience via militias might prolong instability.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of sanctions imposed on January 30; it targeted seven nationals and entities, not five.