Washington Launches 'Economic Outcast' Operation Against Iran and Its Supporters

US President Donald Trump declared that Iran is collapsing completely, coinciding with Washington’s announcement of what it described as an “unprecedented financial attack” on Tehran. Trump posted a brief message on his social media platform, Truth Social, yesterday, stating, “Iran is collapsing completely.”

The US Treasury Department announced the launch of the “Economic Outcast” operation against Iran, noting that it targets “Tehran and those who support it.” Speaking at a press conference in the US capital, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “At the direction of President Donald Trump, we have launched the Economic Outcast operation against Iran. This is an unprecedented campaign involving sanctions on 60 entities, individuals, and a ship linked to Iran in the nuclear, missile, and oil sectors.”

Bessent added, “We have shown resolve to end the Iranian threat, and Tehran must choose between total isolation or returning to the international community.” He noted that the Iranian currency continued its sharp decline, heading toward 3 million rials to the dollar. The new US sanctions on Iran also cover gold, technology, aviation, and maritime shipping sectors.

The US Treasury Secretary pledged to destroy the Iranian economy, stating, “Our goal worldwide is to cut off every economic artery that keeps this authoritarian regime alive, until Tehran is isolated.” He emphasized that countries facilitating Iranian money laundering “will be excluded” from the dollar system.

Earlier yesterday, Bessent announced that the United States was launching an unprecedented financial attack on Iran aimed at cutting off all revenue sources supporting the Iranian regime. In comments to the British newspaper *Financial Times*, Bessent described the US measures as “the harshest in history,” noting they seek to close economic pathways for countries linking their interests to Tehran. He threatened to expand financial isolation to include “any country acting as a financial artery for Iran.”

Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had rerouted 70 commercial ships since the start of the naval blockade on Iranian ports. In a statement on its official X account, CENTCOM said, “US forces have rerouted 70 commercial ships and disrupted three ships as of August 23, and inspected two ships to ensure full compliance with the blockade imposed on Iran.” The statement confirmed that US forces have been strictly enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports since mid-July.

President Trump had repeatedly asserted that the naval blockade on Iran is an “iron wall” and that Tehran has “no means” to counter it, as Washington prepares to impose further stringent economic pressures on the Iranian capital.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran, where he was received by Iranian Interior Minister Mohsen Naji. Three sources in Pakistan told Reuters that Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump days before his visit to the Iranian capital. The Al Arabiya Al Hadath satellite channel revealed that unnamed sources claimed Munir’s visit focuses on reaching a peaceful and permanent resolution to the conflict between Tehran and Washington. Sources familiar with the matter told the same channel that General Munir is carrying US messages to the Iranian side during his visit.

For his part, Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, and the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, as a means to achieve lasting stability in the region.

On another front, Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty called for the resumption of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, describing it as a framework that can be built upon to reduce tensions and create conditions for reaching more comprehensive and sustainable agreements. This came during a phone call between the Egyptian Foreign Minister and his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, which discussed recent regional developments and ways to de-escalate tensions in the region, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In Iran, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said that Tehran had anticipated difficult economic conditions, prompting the bank to begin storing foreign currencies in multiple locations. Hemmati told the Tasnim News Agency that the foreign currency storage process began on January 21, 2026, adding that the preparation “has enabled us to provide strong assurances that we will secure the necessary foreign currency for basic goods and medicines.” He continued, “With the planning we have undertaken, we do not have a problem securing foreign currency.”

Separately, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi will visit Iran today, as the two countries seek to reach a mechanism to regulate ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei stated in a press release that the Omani foreign minister will address “the ongoing political consultations between the two sides, as two countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz, to help enhance peace and security in the region.”