Washington: Tensions between the United States and Iran are no longer limited to military action. US President Donald Trump has announced plans to increase economic pressure on Iran, saying Tehran has missed its opportunity for a deal and that Washington will now seek to isolate the country economically on the international stage.
Trump warned that countries, banks and companies helping Iran could also face US action. The proposed measures are expected to focus on Iran’s oil trade, financial transactions and alleged oil-smuggling networks. The US president has described the campaign as “Economic D-Day.” The aim is to make it increasingly difficult for Iran to conduct international business and move money through the global financial system.
Oil Trade Becomes a Major Target
Oil exports play a major role in Iran’s economy. That makes the country’s oil industry one of the main areas likely to come under pressure from the new US measures. Washington wants to target networks that help Iranian oil reach international markets and move the proceeds back into Iran.
The measures could affect oil-related ships, companies, intermediaries and financial institutions. The goal is not simply to target companies selling Iranian oil, but to put pressure on the wider network involved in supply, shipping and payments.
Banks and Financial Networks Could Also Face Pressure
Iran has long been accused of using different companies and intermediaries to bypass US sanctions. Moving money from oil sales back into Iran is another important part of this system. The US now wants to make these channels harder to use. Possible measures could involve sanctions or other economic restrictions on banks, companies, airports, government institutions and financial networks.
Trump has also called on other countries to reduce their economic cooperation with Iran and support the US campaign. If more countries join the effort, Iran could face greater difficulty conducting international trade and accessing global financial channels.
Trump Also Claims Iran’s Military Has Suffered Heavy Damage
Alongside the economic pressure, Trump has made major claims about Iran’s military capabilities. He said Iran’s navy and air force have suffered heavy damage and claimed that several military facilities and factories have also been affected.
Trump also pointed to pressure on Iran’s economy and currency. However, Tehran has strongly rejected US statements and the economic campaign being announced by Washington.
Iran Rejects US Pressure
Amid the growing pressure, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior official in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), strongly criticized Trump’s remarks. He said he would trust the words of a taxi driver more than those of the US president. Naqdi also described Trump’s thinking as childish and claimed that the US president’s changing statements had damaged America’s global image.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also dismissed the US economic campaign, saying American sanctions would not succeed in putting effective pressure on Iran.
The confrontation between Washington and Tehran is therefore expanding beyond the military sphere and increasingly into the economic arena. While the US is preparing to tighten pressure on Iran’s oil and financial networks, Tehran has made clear that it does not intend to back down.
