ASHEVILLE, (United States): US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowed Monday to persist with economic pressure on Iran, saying a turning point could be near as G20 finance leaders opened talks clouded by war and trade tensions. “We are going to continue exerting pressure, and we’ve had very good discussions here already,” Bessent told reporters before starting meetings with Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors. He said a turning point in this US pressure campaign could come “within weeks or months,” adding that Iran’s economy need not collapse in the Middle East war to achieve this. President Donald Trump’s administration is working to rally G20 partners to ramp up economic pressure on Iran during the talks in Asheville, North Carolina, through Tuesday — amid a renewed exchange of fire with Tehran. The first exchange of attacks for a month loomed over the meetings as leaders arrived Monday morning at the foggy, mountainous compound of the Omni Grove Park Inn. Already, the European Union urged “continued diplomatic efforts” to reach a peace settlement. It welcomed efforts aimed at ensuring Iran ceases its “destabilizing activities and engages in peace negotiation
