President Trump announces ‘economic D-Day’ for Iran as war nears six months
President Donald Trump announced new sanctions against Iran, calling it “economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale,” while warning other nations against aiding the country.
WASHINGTON —
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening what he described as “an economic D-Day” for Iran, unveiling new sanctions aimed at intensifying pressure on the country.
In a post on social media, Trump promised “economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale.” He also warned other nations against providing any form of support to Iran, saying, “You know who you are.”
The president did not elaborate on what these measures would mean for countries with close ties to Iran. Additionally, neither the White House nor the Treasury Department responded to Hearst Television’s request for further details.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi downplayed Trump’s threats on Thursday saying, “The so-called ‘Economic D-Day’ is a diversion from America’s own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs. Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat—and enmity of Iranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide.”
When asked Wednesday about additional sanctions on Iran, Trump said, “Well, we have things that we could sanction. We have a very draconian sanctions, and we’ll see what happens right now. The strait is open. We a lot of boats coming through. People aren’t reporting that. That may slow down a little bit at some point.”
According to trade data firm Kpler, 10 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The administration has disputed the accuracy of these figures. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said there are “dark” transits occurring, where ships cannot be tracked, and many of those vessels are bringing oil to market. Before the war began, more than 100 ships passed through the strait daily.
With less than three months until the midterm elections, the ongoing war could influence voter sentiment. A recent Economist/YouGov poll found that 65% of Americans want the war to end as soon as possible, while 57% believe the war was the wrong decision.
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