- Published
Donald Trump has said he will launch tougher economic measures against Iran, as well as any country that helps or does business with it.
asserted
that → publish → it
The US president wrote in all capital letters on Truth Social that he was launching "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country", without providing further details or the names of any nation other than Iran.
It comes after a 60-day ceasefire formally expired on Monday without any sign of a diplomatic settlement to the war the US and Israel began at the end of February.
asserted
US → write → February
Tehran said Trump's threat would only bring further animosity.
asserted
threat → say → animosity
If realised, it would extend a campaign of economic pressure on Iran aimed at forcing it into submission.
asserted
it → realise → submission
The US launched a wave of sanctions on foreign banks and firms that do business with Iran in April when it became apparent that military action had not led to the overthrow of the regime in Tehran nor its surrender, as Trump had initially hoped.
asserted
Trump → launch → Tehran
Conversely, since the start of the war, Iran has been able to stem the flow of marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, raising energy prices globally.
asserted
Iran → stem → prices
Ahead of the US midterm elections in November, Trump is facing pressure over how much the war is costing American consumers.
asserted
war → face → consumers
The US president wrote on Wednesday evening that he was launching "economic D-Day" on Iran because it had failed to make a deal with the US.
asserted
it → write → US
"ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences," Trump said.
asserted
Trump → allow → Consequences
He did not specify what punishment countries might face.
uncertain
countries → specify → punishment
Trump continued: "Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies - it all needs to stop NOW.
asserted
it → continue → smuggling
You know who you are."
asserted
you → know → ?
It comes a day after the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a US ally, announced it would be severing all financial and economic ties with Iran, following a new missile threat from the country.
asserted
it → come → country
The UAE's defence ministry said it had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran targeting maritime traffic, both of which landed in the sea.
asserted
both → say → sea
Iranian entities have long used Dubai's financial system to transfer money through exchange houses and shell companies.
asserted
entities → use → houses
Following the UAE's decision, Iran's armed forces warned neighbouring Gulf states against providing support to the US military, saying any assistance would be considered collusion.
asserted
assistance → follow → military
While China was not named in the post, businesses there are the biggest buyers of oil from Iran, a key source of Tehran's funding.
asserted
businesses → name → funding
Since the start of the war, Washington has sanctioned several so-called teapot refineries - privately owned oil processing plants, mostly based in Shandong province, eastern China.
asserted
Washington → sanction → province
At the time, China's Ministry of Commerce said the sanctions were "in violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations" and ordered that the sanctions "shall not be recognised, enforced or complied with".
asserted
sanctions → say → relations
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Trump's latest post was "a diversion" from America's own economic problems.
asserted
post → say → problems
"Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat - and enmity of Iranians," he wrote on X.
Operation Economic Fury, announced by the US Treasury Department and the Pentagon in April, aimed at degrading Tehran's warfighting capability by cutting off its revenue streams, and also included a naval blockade aimed at stopping Iranian exports.
asserted
he → double → exports
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the US would soon impose economic isolation on Iran "like the world has never seen before".
asserted
world → say → Iran
Trump recently also reportedly threatened to bomb Oman - a US ally - if it "gets in the way" of his administration's own talks with Iran.
uncertain
it → threaten → Iran
The US and Oman have been negotiating separately with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade route through which around 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas usually flows.
asserted
% → negotiate → oil
The BBC has contacted the Chinese embassy in Washington, the White House and the US Treasury Department for comment.
asserted
BBC → contact → comment
The Aporia
.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
