Esteban Carrillo, editor of The Cradle News, noted in an interview with Rachel Blevins that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's intention is to sever all avenues through which Iranian people can survive – trade, savings, and beyond – through expanded sanctions. Carrillo argued that sanctions generally do not target governments or truly hurt them, while ordinary people bear the consequences. "This is not a war against the Iranian government or the clerical class in Iran. It's against the people," he said.