Trump Escalates Iran Pressure With New Sanctions Threat As Tehran Vows Defiance
By SUSAN ESSEX
US President Donald Trump has announced what he described as the “most crushing economic operation” against Iran, escalating Washington’s pressure on Tehran amid the prolonged conflict between both countries.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Thursday. He said the new measures would target countries that allow their financial institutions, businesses, airports or government agencies to provide any form of economic lifeline to Iran.
The US president did not disclose the specific measures or explain when Washington would implement them. However, the announcement signals another attempt by his administration to increase the economic cost of supporting Tehran.
Washington has maintained extensive sanctions against Iran for more than four decades. The latest threat therefore raises questions about how much additional pressure the new measures could exert on an economy that has already operated under prolonged US restrictions.
Iran immediately rejected the announcement.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s threat as a diversion from what he called America’s own economic problems, including rising debt and interest costs.
He warned that expanding what he described as US “economic terrorism” would further damage Washington’s position and threaten the wider global economy.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf also accused the United States of seeking an “honourable exit” from the Middle East while attempting to establish what he called a new regional order.
The latest US move followed a decision by the United Arab Emirates, a key American ally, to end trade and economic cooperation with Iran.
The UAE accused Iran of launching ballistic missiles at the Gulf country. Tehran denied the allegation and suggested that the incident could have resulted from a false-flag operation involving the US or Israel.
Analysts expect the UAE’s restrictions to place additional pressure on Iran because the country relies heavily on its neighbour for imports and access to financial markets.
Meanwhile, the wider conflict has entered a critical phase. The Iran-US memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June expired on Monday after the 60-day period for ending hostilities and negotiating an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme elapsed.
Trump has since demanded that Tehran surrender and has continued to threaten further escalation.
He has also floated the extraordinary proposal of declaring the Strait of Hormuz US territory after what he described as the defeat of Iran.
The latest sanctions announcement therefore forms part of a broader escalation involving economic pressure, military confrontation and a growing dispute over control of the strategic waterway.
For Iran, the challenge is now to withstand additional economic restrictions while maintaining access to essential imports and financial channels.
For Washington, the central question is whether another round of sanctions can force Tehran to make concessions without triggering wider economic disruption or deepening the conflict.
