The U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent wrote today: "President Trump has dismantled Iran's military capabilities, destroyed nearly 100% of its defense factories, and terminated Iran's nuclear program.
Now we have entered the final phase. At dawn, a financial 'D-Day' operation on an unprecedented scale will begin — the largest financial offensive ever launched against an adversary in history.
For years, Iran has sustained itself by disguising extortion as security. It operated under a calculation: believing that Iran would inevitably retaliate, and that U.S. sanctions could be negotiated. Under President Trump’s leadership, that era is over. Those hesitant to defy Tehran’s authorities should not underestimate the cost of testing Washington’s red lines.
President Trump has created the conditions to mobilize all agencies, full authorities, and even tools many once believed we would never resort to. Our goal is to sever every economic lifeline supporting this authoritarian regime until Tehran stands isolated and helpless."
Commentary: Military force alone cannot fully defeat Iran, so the U.S. is now planning a large-scale financial assault aimed at cutting off all of Iran’s economic lifelines — but this objective is difficult to achieve. Having endured sanctions for decades, Iran has built up domestic industrial chains, established overland trade routes, and developed non-U.S. dollar settlement mechanisms. Even under economic pressure, it will not be easily isolated. Iran has explicitly labeled such extreme sanctions as economic terrorism, arguing they harm ordinary people’s livelihoods.
This financial showdown also carries significant risks of backlash. Iran holds the strategic card of the Strait of Hormuz; if tensions escalate, it could easily drive up global oil prices and disrupt international energy markets. Meanwhile, many countries, driven by their own economic interests, may not fully comply with America’s blockade policies. The swift, decisive economic victory the U.S. envisions is unlikely to materialize as a one-sided triumph. In a prolonged confrontation, both sides will pay a price: the U.S. faces oil price volatility, alliance fractures, and risks of countries moving away from the dollar system; Iran endures ongoing hardship for its population. Ultimately, the outcome is more likely to settle into a phase of tactical balance or lead to renewed negotiations mediated by multiple parties.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874362034211851/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.