U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with an unprecedented economic war, warning that any country or financial institution supporting Tehran would face severe consequences. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that governments, companies, airports and state agencies aiding Iran would face 'tremendous economic consequences,' calling for allied support to counter the perceived threat from Tehran.
Trump’s latest rhetoric follows months of stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran, with no progress on issues such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz or addressing Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. president framed the potential measures as 'historic' and 'the most devastating economic operation ever launched against a country,' comparing the effort to the 1944 D-Day landings that marked a turning point in World War II.
The proposed sanctions would target oil smuggling, currency exchange agreements, money transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and shell companies, though specific implementation details remain unclear. The move comes as Iran continues to export oil, its primary revenue source, with reports indicating that 15 to 20 tankers transit the Strait of Hormuz nightly via a southern route along Oman’s coast. Daily oil flows through the strait now reach about 10 million barrels, roughly half the pre-war volume.
Iranian media dismissed Trump’s threats as routine 'psychological warfare' and propaganda. State-linked outlets such as Fars and Tasnim noted that Tehran has repeatedly adapted to U.S. sanctions, which have been in place for years, and accused Washington of attempting to sever all financial and economic ties with the Islamic Republic.
Political pressure on Trump has intensified ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in two and a half months, with critics questioning the lack of visible progress in his Iran strategy. The president has alternated between claims of ongoing talks with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and assertions that no negotiations are currently underway, a pattern that has drawn skepticism from analysts and Iranian officials alike.
