D-Day arrives: US will 'sever every economic lifeline of Iran's murderous regime'

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a broad economic campaign against Iran on Monday, pledging to target the financial networks, companies and governments that help sustain the Iranian regime.

Bessent said the initiative, named “Operation Economic Outcast,” is intended to cut Iran off from the global economy by severing its remaining sources of revenue and international financial connections.

“Our goal is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” Bessent said at a press conference.

Drawing a parallel to the Allied D-Day landings during World War II, Bessent described the initiative as the start of an extensive campaign to drive Iran out of its financial positions around the world.

The Treasury secretary warned that companies and other entities that refuse US demands to halt business with Iran would face consequences. He said any form of economic engagement with the Iranian government could expose those responsible to the full reach of American financial power.

Bessent also said countries could no longer claim ignorance of their role in enabling Iranian activity. President Trump, he added, has been contacting foreign leaders and urging them to end economic ties with Tehran.

The campaign is expected to expand US secondary sanctions, which can penalize foreign businesses and financial institutions for conducting transactions with sanctioned Iranian entities. The measures are intended to target Iran’s sanctions-evasion networks and increase pressure on its oil, military and financial sectors, according to Reuters.

Bessent praised the United Arab Emirates for moving to sever ties with Iran, describing the Gulf state as a strong US partner that has borne the brunt of Iranian attacks in the region. He indicated that an additional wave of sanctions would follow. "The UAE’s actions in severing ties with Iran is not a coincidence, they have been a very good partner, and taken the brunt of Iranian attacks."

The Treasury secretary accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons and carrying out attacks against Americans and US allies. He argued that the Trump administration was no longer seeking merely to contain the Iranian threat but to eliminate it.

Iran has warned that it could retaliate against countries that cooperate with the new US sanctions. China has also opposed Washington’s use of unilateral economic pressure and called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.