Trump Launches 'Operation Economic Outcast' Against Tehran
- Bessent to world nations: Either cut ties with Iran or face the consequences
- Any entity facilitating money laundering for Iran will be excluded from the US dollar-based financial system
- Sanctions imposed on 60 entities, individuals, and a ship linked to Iran in the nuclear, missile, and oil sectors
- Tehran threatens 45 oil tankers with fines and confiscation
- Qalibaf, in response to Trump’s slogan: “Let’s make America hungry again!”
- Washington asks Asim Munir to bring Iran back to the negotiating table!
On the 68th day since the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, and 177 days after the outbreak of hostilities between the two sides on February 28, President Donald Trump shifted from military action to employing economic tools, launching what he termed an “economic pariah operation,” while asserting that “Iran is collapsing completely!!!” and emphasizing, “We are defeating everyone, including Iran, which is suffering from a devastating military and economic collapse.”
Hours after his pledge in an article in the Financial Times to launch “the largest financial attack ever” against Tehran, noting that any country continuing cooperation with the Islamic Republic would become “globally ostracized,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday that “this unprecedented campaign involves US government agencies and targets Iran, those who enable it, and those who support it,” stressing that “our measures will suffocate the Iranian regime and target the Revolutionary Guard.”
Bessent stated that “Trump is holding consultations with global leaders to sever economic relations with Iran,” emphasizing that “no one is immune from US sanctions.”
He clarified that “countries will be given a deadline to shut down activities designated by the Treasury Department, including closing Iranian bank branches abroad.... Any entity facilitating money laundering for Iran will be excluded from the US dollar-based financial system.”
He added that “the sanctions target five vital arteries exploited by Iran in other countries: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and maritime shipping,” along with sanctions on 60 entities, individuals, and a ship linked to Iran in the nuclear, missile, and oil sectors, in addition to suspending general licenses that had allowed certain financial transfers to Iran.
He affirmed, “We are launching this economic offensive against Iran with the same spirit that drove the Normandy landings in World War II. Iran has caused the death and injury of more of our citizens and soldiers than any other terrorist regime on Earth.”
He continued, “Countries facilitating any dealings with the Iranian regime must understand our message and respond swiftly,” adding that “the strength of the US economy allows us to conduct this ongoing financial operation alongside our military power.”
Bessent said, “We have precisely identified every point of contact, every enabler, and every network Iran has used to smuggle oil and circumvent sanctions.”
Although Tehran continues to adopt a defiant public stance, Iranian officials speaking to Reuters expressed concern that any new economic sanctions could exacerbate hardships, fuel unrest, and further erode the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir arrived in Tehran for his third visit since Islamabad became involved in mediation between Tehran and Washington, following a call he made last week with Trump, according to three Pakistani sources and one US source.
The Iranian rial hit a record low, falling to 2.02 million rials per US dollar as trading opened in Iran’s informal currency markets.
The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Iran stands at around 1.5 million rials per dollar, but the unofficial rate is the one most Iranians actually pay. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on the X platform, “3 million rials to the dollar... we’re coming,” in reference to his expectation that the Iranian currency will continue to depreciate in the coming period.
