Overview
- This week President Trump framed an intensified campaign called “Economic D‑Day” to choke Iran’s oil revenue and financial networks by imposing sweeping unilateral and secondary sanctions.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will unveil what the administration calls the toughest sanctions in history on Monday, a move designed to pressure China and other major buyers to stop buying Iranian oil.
- Iran’s leadership has publicly rejected the measures as unlawful and desperate, and Mohsen Rezaei warned neighbouring states they would be treated as enemies if they cooperate with the U.S. campaign.
- Tehran has already halted most traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, bringing shipping to a near standstill and pushing Gulf states to seek alternative pipelines, ports and rail routes.
- The conflict now risks wider economic and military fallout: Gulf civilians and sailors face trade and fuel shortages, China and other third parties face legal and commercial dilemmas, and analysts warn sanctions could trigger further Iranian attacks on regional energy infrastructure.