Bessent’s Iran Threat Hinges on US Willingness to Hit China | The Pulse 8/25/2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s threat to unleash an economic assault against Iran risks setting the US on a collision course with China, its main trading partner. In markets, global stocks rose as chipmakers rebounded, with falling bond yields adding support after Brent crude slid below $90 a barrel. And in corporate news, Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume told workers that roughly half of the carmaker’s additional job cuts will need to happen in Germany, raising the stakes in a restructuring conflict already straining relations with employees. Today's guests: Karen Ward, JPMorgan Asset Management, EMEA Chief Market Strategist; Maria Demertzis, European University Institute, Economic Policy Professor; Adrian Cox, Deutsche Bank Research, Thematic Strategist. -- "The Pulse With Francine Lacqua" is all about conversations with high profile guests in the beating heart of global business, economics, finance and politics. Based in London, we go wherever the story is, bringing you exclusive interviews and market-moving scoops. Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Pulse 00:00:39 - Bessent: Will block every revenue source to Iran 00:06:16 - Canada to unveil Trump tariff reponse 00:08:56 - Karen Ward, JPMorgan, EMEA Chief Market Strategist 00:15:19 - Andy Burnham plans to lobby Trump on Ukraine 00:20:25 - Bloomberg Intelligence looks at how Hormuz shock will reshape energy markets 00:23:09 - Tuesday headlines 00:23:57 - Maria Demertzis, European University Institute, Professor 00:33:56 - Volkswagen to present restructuring plan to workers 00:36:48 - Grosvenor's heat warning for London luxury homes 00:40:27 - Adrian Cox, Deutsche Bank, Thematic Strategist -------- More on Bloomberg Television and Markets Like this video? Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any videos from Bloomberg Markets & Finance: https://tinyurl.com/ysu5b8a9 Visit http://www.bloomberg.com for business news & analysis, up-to-the-minute market data, features, profiles and more. Connect with Bloomberg Television on: X: https://twitter.com/BloombergTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloombergTelevision Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergtv/ Connect with Bloomberg Business on: X: https://twitter.com/business Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloombergbusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergbusiness/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloombergbusiness?lang=en Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/bloomberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomberg-news/ More from Bloomberg: Bloomberg Radio: https://twitter.com/BloombergRadio Bloomberg Surveillance: https://twitter.com/bsurveillance Bloomberg Politics: https://twitter.com/bpolitics Bloomberg Originals: https://twitter.com/bbgoriginals Watch more on YouTube: Bloomberg Technology: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergTechnology Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/@business Bloomberg Quicktake: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergQuicktake Bloomberg Espanol: https://www.youtube.com/@bloomberg_espanol Bloomberg Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergPodcasts