How much could Trump's 'economic D-Day' hurt Iran?
The US administration is preparing a new 'economic D-Day' strategy involving aggressive sanctions against any nation that continues to conduct business with Iran. Officials argue this pressure is the most effective way to force a resolution to the ongoing conflict, despite Iran's history of adapting to sanctions.
Why it matters
The escalation of economic warfare against Iran could disrupt global energy markets and force third-party countries to choose between US trade and Iranian relations.
Image source, EPA By Bernd Debusmann Jr White House reporter Published 1 hour ago Nearly six months after US President Donald Trump vowed a swift victory over Iran, the conflict appears to be at a standstill, with prospects of a military victory or negotiated settlement growing dimmer.
To break the deadlock, Trump has vowed an "economic D-Day" under which any country that does business with Iran would face "tremendous" economic consequences.
Iran, however, has long faced sanctions and has so far shown a willingness to endure pain and a capacity to adapt to immense economic and military pressure as the conflict drags on.
The key question for the US then becomes, will further sanctions work where other strategies have failed?
The exact mechanics of the new US economic pressure campaign remain unclear, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promising to reveal them in a news conference on 24 August.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in