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Trump’s economic D-Day
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said US President Donald Trump’s “Economic D-Day” campaign against Tehran is “bound to fail,” listing “14 years ago: 'Most crippling sanctions in history.' Failed” and “8 years ago: 'Maximum pressure.' Failed.”
“calling the latest US pressure campaign "bound to fail"”
Araghchi also posted that “The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs,” framing the move as an attempt to deflect from US economic problems.
Trump, meanwhile, announced what he described as the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country” targeting Iran, calling it “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.”
Trump said the measures would target Iran’s economic lifelines, including “oil smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies,” and urged allies to join Washington in isolating Iran.
In the same reporting, Trump said Iran “will never have a nuclear weapon,” and added that Washington would determine its next course of action based on developments, with the situation either leading to “a significant fall in oil prices” or “the continuation of the existing measures.”
Tehran’s response and allies
Iran’s response to the sanctions threat included a warning of broad retaliation, with NewsNation reporting that Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi said, “With preparedness across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace, Iran’s armed forces will respond to the enemy’s new threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses.”
NewsNation also reported Scott Bessent’s framing of the campaign as a “one-two punch,” quoting him: “We have the blockade (on Iran), and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history,” told CNBC.
In parallel, PressTV said Araghchi traced Washington’s history of failed pressure tactics and wrote, “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” in a post on X.
PressTV further reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions as “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity,” describing economic sanctions and pressure as “the other side of the same coin as military war and aggression.”
Economic pressure and stakes
As the US pressed for wider cooperation, Bessent told CNBC that Washington would impose “the toughest sanctions in history” and that the strategy would be explained on Monday, while Anadolu Ajansı reported that Bessent said the US “will put its full might and force toward” nations found transferring money, buying oil, or doing seaborne ship transport with Iran.
“"will put its full might and force toward"”
Anadolu Ajansı also quoted China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian saying China “always believes military actions, sanctioning, pressuring do not help solve the problem, it only builds up the tensions in the current situation,” and urged negotiations and dialogue.
Middle East Eye reported that Bessent said the campaign was “a one-two punch” with “the blockade [on Iran],” and warned that any country helping Tehran would face “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences.”
Middle East Eye added that the war’s economic toll has pushed energy prices higher, citing Brent Oil trading at $93.41 per barrel and noting that the cost of chartering a tanker “skyrocketing.”
In the same reporting, Middle East Eye said Iran continued attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and that its partner in Yemen, Ansar Allah (known as the Houthis), imposed a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, while the kingdom was forced to pipe crude to the Mediterranean via Egypt.