U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington is not engaging with Iran, emphasizing that the administration is focused on intensifying economic pressure against Tehran and penalizing nations that maintain financial or trade links with the Islamic Republic.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, described the U.S. campaign as Operation Economic Outcast, stating that the effort is designed to ‘destroy their economy’ and will persist until Iran enters into meaningful negotiations. ‘No negotiations are happening right now,’ Leavitt said. ‘This will continue until the president feels that maybe they come to the table in a meaningful way. He of course continues to retain all options on the table.’
An Iranian official characterized the U.S. push as an all-out economic war, according to reports.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had warned foreign governments on Monday to sever financial ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions as part of an initiative branded Economic D-Day, though the Treasury Department did not immediately impose penalties.
Trump, when asked whether Washington would penalize Russia for continuing to do business with Iran, replied: ‘It depends. So far, I think Russia’s behaved quite well, having to do with the Strait of Hormuz, and you have to understand: for everything they do, we do also. You know, somebody was saying about China. What about China? We hear they’re spying. We spy on them too.’
Pressed on whether Chinese banks would face sanctions for transactions with Iran, Trump said: ‘Who said I’m not? You don’t know if I’m doing it ... I don’t have to announce everything, do I?’
The remarks came as Qatar’s prime minister traveled to Tehran on Thursday in an effort to revive diplomatic channels amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over the escalating economic campaign.
