US President Donald Trump has announced the launch of a large-scale economic operation against Iran. According to him, there has never been an operation of this scale directed against any country in history.
“No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran more opportunities to strike a deal than I have. Unfortunately for them, they did not take advantage of them. Therefore, today I am announcing the most devastating economic operation ever carried out against any country! This will be an economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale,” Trump wrote on his own social media platform, Truth Social.
He added that any country that aids Iran will face “colossal economic consequences”. Trump did not specify what these would be.
The US leader described the measures against Iran as an “economic D-Day” (D-Day – 6 June 1944, the day the Allies landed in Normandy during the Second World War) and called on the US’s allies to join in isolating Iran.
Trump had previously threatened Iran with devastating military strikes, but has recently backed away from these threats, replacing them with statements about economic pressure.
On 19 August, whilst answering questions from journalists, Trump reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz – which Iran has threatened to block – is under US control. He stated that he was satisfied with the current situation in the standoff with Iran, noting that negotiations with Tehran might resume at some point.