The Trump administration on Monday formally launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” an aggressive new campaign aimed at economically isolating Iran and cutting off the revenue streams sustaining the regime, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warning foreign governments that Washington intends to “tighten the noose” around Tehran.
The strategy is designed to pressure countries around the world to halt oil purchases, energy transactions and other commercial dealings with Iran, effectively forcing governments and businesses to choose between maintaining economic ties with Tehran and facing consequences from the United States.
Bessent said President Trump has personally become involved in the pressure campaign, contacting foreign leaders directly with demands that they end specified dealings with Iran. He cautioned that Washington “does not have infinite patience” for governments that fail to cooperate.
“The president is making phone calls to world leaders with specific requests to cease their interactions with the regime. We are already seeing results,” Bessent said, without naming any specific countries.
The economic offensive comes as the war with Iran reaches the six-month mark and follows repeated signals from the administration that it was preparing what officials had described as an “Economic D-Day” intended to dramatically intensify financial pressure on Tehran.
Among the specific demands already conveyed to foreign governments, Bessent said, is a directive to close Bank Melli branches operating within their borders. Bank Melli is Iran’s largest government-owned commercial bank and represents one of the financial institutions Washington is seeking to isolate.
Bessent described Operation Economic Outcast as a comprehensive effort intended to close off alternative avenues through which Tehran could evade the mounting economic restrictions. He said the initiative will “foreclose every other option available,” describing the strategy as a “zero leakage approach” designed to leave the Iranian regime with “no minimal breathing space” to recover economically.
The administration’s objective, according to Bessent, is to confront Tehran with a stark decision between continued defiance accompanied by severe economic isolation and changing course in exchange for the possibility of eventually restoring normal international economic relations.
“Iran now faces a very clear choice, with only two paths before them: complete global isolation and a subsistence economy, or a path back to normalcy with an opportunity to rejoin the global economy,” he said.
Bessent indicated that Monday’s announcement represents only the beginning of the new financial offensive. He said additional sanctions will be unveiled following his press conference and revealed that a major financial institution is expected to be sanctioned before the end of the week.
The Treasury secretary characterized the administration’s broader strategy toward Iran as one of “economic asphyxiation,” signaling that Washington intends to steadily eliminate Tehran’s remaining access to international commerce and financial networks.
{Matzav.com}
