The president Donald Trump announced this Wednesday what he described as "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country," aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, which he characterized as a nation that "hangs by a thread."
The official posted the announcement on his Truth Social account and referred to it as an "Economic D-Day," in reference to the Allied invasion of World War II.
"This will be economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale," wrote Trump, adding that the Iranian navy "has disappeared," its air force "is destroyed," its military factories "are in ruins," and its currency "is worthless."
The announcement comes after the 60-day deadline set to try to reach an agreement between Washington and Tehran expired this week, with no understanding reached by the parties.
On Tuesday, Trump had already confirmed that there are no ongoing or planned conversations with Iran, leaving the conflict without a visible diplomatic resolution.
Trump warned that any country whose banks, companies, airports, or government entities provide a "lifeline" to Iran will face "tremendous economic consequences."
He precisely enumerated the mechanisms that must cease immediately: "Oil smuggling, currency exchange lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registrations, and shell companies. Everything must stop now. They know who they are."
The measure formalizes and publicly escalates the so-called Economic Fury Operation, which the Trump administration has been carrying out since April 2026 alongside military pressure.
The Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, had predicted in previous days that measures would be implemented "like never seen before" against Tehran, describing the plan as a "double blow": economic isolation combined with a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
That blockade, which Trump confirmed is "still in full force and effect," affects a route that, prior to the conflict, channeled approximately 20% of the world's oil.
The U.S. Senate approved new sanctions on August 7 against the Iranian energy and arms sectors, effective until 2031.
The context is one of maximum tension. This Wednesday, the British newspaper Financial Times reported, citing two individuals close to the Iranian government, that Tehran has considered possible attacks against military targets linked to the United States in Europe, including potential targets in Bulgaria and Cyprus, if Washington escalates its offensive.
The general Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, also issued a direct warning to the Gulf countries: "Any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressive U.S. military will be considered as participation with U.S. military forces."
The United Arab Emirates suspended all commercial relations, trade exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran this Wednesday, after stating that two ballistic missiles launched from Iran had targeted maritime traffic near the country.
The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Baghaei, described those accusations as "baseless."
The conflict originated from Operation Epic Fury, the coordinated attacks that the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran on February 28, 2026.
After the ceasefire and the signing in June of the Islamabad Memorandum, which was later ratified in Switzerland, Iran announced on July 18 the suspension of its commitments under the agreement.
Trump concluded his announcement with a stark warning: "These fanatics are on the ropes, and these historic measures will paralyze them and their ability to project terror around the world. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."
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