US President Donald Trump has declared what he described as “economic warfare” against Iran, warning countries, businesses and financial institutions that provide Iran with an economic lifeline that they will face severe consequences.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform on Thursday, as the nearly seven-month-old war between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to disrupt energy markets and deepen economic pressure across the Middle East.
Reiterating his usual claim that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded, Trump said Iran’s “navy is gone,” its “air force is destroyed” and its “military factories are now rubble.”
He then announced what he described as the “MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY”, saying the new campaign would amount to economic warfare and isolation of Iran “on an unprecedented scale.”
“Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences.
“Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are,” Trump said.
He also called on US allies to support the economic isolation of Iran, describing the campaign as an “ECONOMIC D-DAY” with a goal to “isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat,”
