US announces ‘economic D-Day’ against Iran

Washington: The United States is preparing what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as an unprecedented “economic D-Day” against Iran, declaring that Washington is entering the “endgame” after the Trump administration’s military campaign against Tehran, Anadolu Agency reported.

Bessent said on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s administration had severely damaged Iran’s military infrastructure and nuclear programme, creating conditions for a sweeping financial assault aimed at isolating the Islamic Republic.

The Treasury secretary said Washington would now deploy its full range of economic tools and government authorities to cut off financial support for the Iranian government. The stated objective is to target the economic networks that sustain Tehran and leave the regime increasingly isolated.

Bessent also issued a warning to governments and other actors that have relied on Iran or challenged Washington’s pressure campaign. He argued that Tehran had long benefited from the belief that Iranian retaliation was inevitable while US enforcement could be negotiated or avoided.

According to Bessent, that calculation has changed under Trump, with Washington prepared to impose greater costs on those continuing to support or engage with Iran despite the US campaign.

The Treasury secretary did not spell out the measures planned for the “economic D-Day,” nor did he identify the US agencies that would be involved. His remarks nevertheless signal a potentially significant escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign, extending the confrontation with Tehran from the military and nuclear arenas into a broad economic battle.

The announcement comes as the Trump administration seeks to exploit what Bessent portrayed as Iran’s weakened strategic position and use economic pressure to further constrain the Islamic Republic.