The European Union has officially signed onto the U.S.-led sanctions drive targeting Iran, even as South Korea indicated it is evaluating a potential military contribution to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington urging allies to support its conflict with Tehran across both economic and military dimensions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commended the EU for joining ‘Operation Economic Outcast,’ the initiative designed to cut Tehran off from the international financial network.

“We value their firm and prompt position,” Bessent wrote in a Thursday evening social media post. “The international community is delivering an unambiguous signal to the Iranian government: We will not relent until every last financial lifeline has been cut,” he continued.

The remarks followed an Aug. 31 statement from Brussels expressing backing for efforts to halt Tehran’s ‘destabilizing activities’ and restart peace negotiations, including via Operation Economic Outcast, to impose further economic strain on the Islamic government.

The bloc’s approval coincided with this week’s gathering of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Asheville, North Carolina.

“The United States remains steadfast alongside our allies in preventing the lethal Iranian regime from leveraging the global financial system to finance its nuclear aspirations, weapons development, and proxy terror networks,” Bessent stated in the Thursday post.

The Trump administration initiated the Operation Economic Outcast campaign in late August, taking aim at Iran’s access to digital assets, advanced technology acquisition, gold holdings, commercial aviation, and maritime shipping.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, countered the EU’s decision to endorse what he labeled Washington’s ‘economic terrorism.’ In a Sept. 1 post, Baghaei accused the bloc of having ‘surrendered its sovereignty, its laws and regulations, values and ethics to U.S. coercion.’

Bessent characterized the campaign as an ‘economic onslaught’ on Iran’s worldwide financial ties, cautioning that nations assisting Tehran should ‘anticipate sharing in the isolation of a decaying regime.’ China stood as Iran’s top trading partner, purchasing approximately 90% of Iran’s sanctioned crude oil exports prior to the conflict.

The EU separately upholds its own sanctions framework aimed at Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs as well as its military assistance to Russia.

Ahead of the summit, Bessent had indicated he would urge G20 counterparts to sever financial links with Tehran or confront secondary sanctions. He also signaled weekly new secondary sanctions, initially targeting banks, with a warning to completely disconnect institutions facilitating Iran-linked transactions from the dollar-based financial system.

Seoul Considers Role in Hormuz

Separately, South Korea is evaluating options that include military aid to back the U.S. effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, Reuters reported Friday, citing the presidential office.

The government, however, refuted local media reports that a decision had already been reached, stating ‘details related to the issue have yet to be decided,’ in a statement to reporters, per Yonhap News.

Multiple South Korean media outlets reported Thursday that Seoul was readying to deploy troops to the Gulf region before year-end, and might request parliamentary approval as early as this month.

The deliberation comes as Washington has voiced frustration with Seoul’s hesitance to provide military support in its war against Iran, including by reducing an annual joint military exercise last month and canceling a landing drill planned for September.

Impasse

Military clashes in the region escalated in recent days, rekindling concerns of a wider conflict.

The U.S. military executed a fresh round of strikes earlier this week, targeting military sites in Iran in response to attacks on vessels and American forces in the area. Iran has answered back, firing missiles at U.S. military installations throughout the Middle East.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for about one-fifth of global oil flows prior to the war — stayed muted, with Iran conducting intermittent strikes on ships using the southern shipping lane off the Omani coast.

The U.S. has kept a naval blockade in the strait, preventing vessels from entering or departing Iranian ports to hinder the country’s crude oil exports. U.S. Central Command stated Friday that it has diverted 87 commercial vessels, disabled three, and boarded two to guarantee full compliance.

There is still an opportunity to grab attractive dividend-paying energy names, despite the sector’s run higher this year, according to Goldman Sachs. While the firm continues to see long-term value in the oil and gas sector, it recognizes the area is outperforming the broader market right now. The State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) has gained 45% so far this year and hit a 52-week high on Thursday. In comparison, the S & P 500 is up 13% year to date. XLE YTD mountain State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF year to date Energy companies have benefited from the jump in oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. Brent crude futures closed above $95 per barrel . “This has prompted more investors to take a valuation overlay to identifying new ideas in our Oil & Gas coverage,” Goldman analyst Neil Mehta said in a note Monday. “For those screening for value, we screen our comparison sheets and identify Buy-rated stocks that currently offer above-average total return while trading at below-average 2028 multiples as investors position into year-end.” Here are some of the names that made the cut: Devon Energy has gained roughly 33% so far this year, versus a 40% advance for its large-cap oil exploration and production peers, said Mehta, calling the name “a compelling valuation opportunity.” “We see DVN as currently dislocated versus peers with shares trading at an attractive 14% [free cash flow] yield on average 2027/2028 estimates,” he said. He also has a constructive view on Devon Energy’s development and focus on the Delaware Basin asset as the core of its long-term portfolio. Plus, the company seeks to return up to 70% of its free cash flow to shareholders, he added. Last month, Devon Energy handily beat earnings and revenue expectations for its second quarter. It announced a dividend hike in May. Mehta’s $55 price target implies 12% upside from Wednesday’s close. The stock pays a 2.3% dividend yield. Gas exploration and production name, Expand Energy , also has a compelling valuation relative to its Appalachian peers, according to Mehta. He sees it currently trading at a 10% free-cash-flow yield on his average 2027/2028 estimates relative to its peer average of 8%. Expand Energy, which yields 2.3%, has reliable free cash flow and a steady capital return program, Mehta said. In addition, he believes in its ability to “generate sustainable cash flow improvement through incremental marketing and commercial initiative.” The company posted mixed second-quarter results in July, with its adjusted earnings per share topping expectations and its revenue falling short. Shares are down roughly 10% so far in 2026. U.S. refiner HF Sinclair , on the other hand, has rallied 131% year to date — and also hit a 52-week high on Thursday. Despite that, Mehta believes the stock trades at a discount to its refiner peers due to uncertainty around the CEO and chief financial officer transitions. Both are currently interim roles. ”[W]e continue to see value in the company’s non-refining earnings contributions (Lubricants, Renewable Diesel, and Midstream) in addition to the company’s leverage to niche refining markets (West Coast/Rockies and Mid-Continent),” Mehta wrote. HF Sinclair posted a beat on both its top and bottom lines for the second quarter and raised its quarterly dividend. The stock currently yields about 2%. Mehta’s $114 price target suggests 7.5% upside from Wednesday’s close. Lastly, oil major ConocoPhillips has a $146 price target, which implies more than 6% upside ahead. Goldman’s buy rating is based on a $7 billion free-cash-flow inflection by 2029 as four major growth projects come online and the company cuts $1 billion in costs. The stock is trading at a discounted multiple, which reflects “a heavy phase of the capital cycle, with the market hesitant to pay for a back-half-weighted free cash flow inflection, where the bulk of the uplift lands in 2029,” Mehta wrote. ConocoPhillips has gained 45% year to date, hitting a 52-week high on Thursday. It currently yields 2.5%.

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Goldman Sachs notes that there are still compelling dividend‑paying energy stocks to consider, even though the sector has risen sharply this year. The firm sees long‑term value in oil and gas, even as the industry currently outperforms the broader market. The State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is up 45% year‑to‑date and reached a 52‑week high on Thursday. By contrast, the S&P 500 has risen about 13% so far this year. Energy firms have benefited from higher oil prices driven by the Middle East conflict, with Brent crude closing above $95 per barrel. “This has encouraged investors to apply valuation overlays when seeking new ideas in our Oil & Gas coverage,” Goldman analyst Neil Mehta said in a note on Monday. “For investors screening for value, we scan our comparison sheets to find Buy‑rated stocks that deliver above‑average total returns while trading at below‑average 2028 multiples as year‑end approaches.” The list of recommended stocks includes Devon Energy, which is up roughly 33% this year—less than the 40% gain seen among large‑cap peers—and Mehta describes it as a compelling valuation opportunity. “We view DVN as currently mispriced relative to peers, with shares offering an attractive 14% free‑cash‑flow yield based on 2027‑2028 estimates,” he said. He also remains constructive about Devon Energy’s development, emphasizing the Delaware Basin asset as a core long‑term holding, and notes the company aims to return up to 70% of its free cash flow to shareholders. Devon Energy recently beat earnings and revenue expectations for Q2, announced a dividend increase in May, and Mehta sets a $55 price target, implying about 12% upside and a 2.3% dividend yield. Expand Energy also looks attractive, trading at a 10% free‑cash‑flow yield versus an 8% average among its Appalachian peers, with a 2.3% dividend yield and a steady capital return program. Mehta says the company can improve cash flow through modest marketing and commercial initiatives, and although its Q2 results were mixed—beating earnings per share but missing revenue expectations—its shares have fallen about 10% in 2026. U.S. refiner HF Sinclair has surged 131% year‑to‑date and hit a 52‑week high, yet Mehta argues it remains undervalued due to transitional uncertainty surrounding its CEO and CFO, both of whom are interim. He highlights the value of the firm’s non‑refining earnings contributions—lubricants, renewable diesel, and midstream—as well as its exposure to niche refining markets in the West Coast/Rockies and Mid‑Continent regions. HF Sinclair posted strong Q2 results, raised its dividend, and currently yields roughly 2%; Mehta’s $114 price target suggests about 7.5% upside. ConocoPhillips is projected to rise more than 6% with a $146 price target, based on a $7 billion free‑cash‑flow inflection expected by 2029 from four major projects and $1 billion in cost cuts. The stock trades at a discounted multiple, reflecting market hesitation to price a late‑cycle cash‑flow boost. ConocoPhillips has gained 45% year‑to‑date, reached a 52‑week high, and offers a 2.5% dividend yield.