U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new operation aimed at severing Iran’s economic and commercial ties. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump described the initiative as “the most overwhelming economic operation” ever carried out against any country.
Trump said he had given Tehran a greater opportunity than any other actor to reach an agreement, but that Iran had failed to seize it. He said he had subsequently launched “economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale.”
Threats targeting financial and commercial networks
The operation is aimed at cutting off financial and commercial channels that provide economic support to Iran. Trump said the financial institutions, companies, airports and public institutions of countries providing Iran with any form of support would face severe economic consequences.
The activities targeted by Trump included oil smuggling, financial clearing channels, cash transfers, currency-exchange offices, ship registries and shell companies. He said all of these channels “must stop immediately.”
Trump’s claims about Iran’s military capacity
Trump also claimed that Iran’s military capacity had been significantly weakened. He said Iran’s navy had been eliminated, its air force destroyed and its military factories reduced to ruins.
Arguing that Iran’s currency was “worthless,” Trump said the country was in a difficult situation. Calling the initiative “Economic D-Day,” Trump urged U.S. allies to join efforts to isolate Iran.
Trump reiterated his administration’s position on Iran’s nuclear program, saying that Iran would never possess a nuclear weapon.
Tasnim criticizes the maximum-pressure policy
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency described Trump’s announcement as a renewed version of the maximum-pressure policy, which it said had failed. The agency said Trump had previously implemented an economic pressure policy, turned to military threats after that policy failed, and was now using the rhetoric of “economic warfare” again.
Tasnim argued that the United States had spent years trying to restrict Iran’s financial and commercial ties with the outside world. The agency said Iran had learned to circumvent these restrictions and gained experience in doing so.
Maria Nica / Editor
