US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Fox News that the United States is conducting a global search for Iranian assets, stating that recovered funds will be allocated to the Iranian people. This declaration outlines a specific mechanism for asset recovery and redistribution, signaling a targeted approach to financial pressure and humanitarian aid. The statement was made during a televised interview, providing direct insight into the administration's current strategy regarding Iran.

Policy Statement Details

The comments were made by Scott Bessent in his capacity as US Treasury Secretary. The broadcast occurred on Fox News, a major media outlet. The core of the announcement involves two key components: the active search for assets and the designated beneficiary of those funds.

Strategic Implications

The explicit mention of "all around the world" suggests a comprehensive scope for the asset search, extending beyond traditional financial centers. By designating the Iranian people as the recipients of the funds, the administration distinguishes this action from sanctions enforcement or government-to-government settlements. This approach aims to bypass state-controlled entities and directly impact the civilian population's economic conditions.

What the Numbers Show

While no specific monetary values were disclosed in the statement, the commitment to a global search implies a significant operational effort. The lack of immediate figures indicates that the identification and seizure processes are ongoing. The focus remains on the procedural intent rather than immediate financial outcomes.

The Trump administration is considering a proposal to charge international students $100,000 to work in the U.S. after graduating from American universities, according to people familiar with the matter cited in a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday. The proposed fee would apply to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows international graduates to work in the U.S. for one to three years while remaining on student visas after completing their studies. Roughly 419,000 foreign graduates were working under the program in 2024, the latest year for which data is available.

If implemented, the proposal would significantly expand President Donald Trump’s efforts to tighten legal immigration. It could make studying in the U.S. less attractive for international students while affecting universities that rely on them for tuition revenue, as well as major Silicon Valley and Wall Street firms that recruit graduates from American universities for technical and financial roles. The move is also intended to accomplish a goal similar to the administration’s earlier proposal to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas for foreign professionals.

Impact on Employers and Universities

That earlier H-1B proposal initially applied broadly before being narrowed following opposition from major technology companies. While H-1B visas are commonly used by IT and consulting firms to hire foreign professionals directly from overseas, many technology and financial companies instead recruit international students from U.S. universities and later transition them from OPT to H-1B status. As a result, an OPT fee would more directly affect those employers.

The proposal remains under discussion at the Department of Homeland Security, and it is unclear whether the White House will approve it. It is also not yet clear whether the proposed fee would be paid by international students or by their prospective employers. The fee would likely be tied to a new requirement announced earlier this month requiring international students to apply for an extension of their visas to use OPT, while DHS is separately working on broader regulations to rewrite the program that could be released as soon as this fall.

Regulatory Context and Opposition

A DHS spokeswoman told the Journal, “No policies should be considered final until formally announced. At DHS we are always having conversations about how to use all tools in our arsenal to protect the integrity of our legal immigration system.” The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s requests for comment.

Earlier this year, a federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa applications, ruling that the payment functioned as a tax that Congress had not authorized. The administration has also weighed requiring certain green card applicants outside the U.S. to post a $100,000 bond as part of a broader effort to tighten legal immigration and promote immigrant financial self-sufficiency.

The Journal also said the OPT program has long been a target of immigration restrictionists, who argue it allows employers to hire foreign graduates without safeguards ensuring they are not paid less than American workers. During Trump’s first administration, senior immigration officials, including Stephen Miller, pushed to eliminate the STEM OPT program, which provides up to three years of work authorization for graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. They were ultimately overruled by more business-oriented officials, including Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

What the Numbers Show

The proposal also comes as some business leaders have argued that the U.S. should make it easier, not harder, for highly skilled international graduates to remain in the country. Earlier this month, billionaire investor Bill Ackman said it “makes no sense” for the U.S. to educate top talent at American universities only to send those graduates abroad, calling for immigration reforms that would allow highly skilled workers to stay and create value in the U.S.