Trump announces 'most crippling economic operation' against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States is implementing "the most crippling economic operation" ever undertaken against any nation, targeting Iran. Trump made this announcement via Truth Social, framing the move as a response to the failure of military actions to subdue the Islamic Republic. He asserted that the U.S. has repeatedly imposed and escalated economic sanctions on Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, which have severely impacted the lives of ordinary Iranians, including access to basic services like healthcare. Despite these decades of sanctions, Iran has reportedly found ways to survive by strengthening its economic and technological independence. Trump claimed that the U.S. and Israel launched a major offensive against Iran earlier this year, aiming to overthrow the regime and resulting in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and thousands of Iranians, but failed to bring Iran to heel. He boasted that no one had given the Islamic Republic a greater chance to reach a deal than he had, but they failed to capitalize on it. Trump warned that this would be an "Economic War and Isolation on an unprecedented scale," detailing the alleged destruction of Iran's navy, air force, military factories, and its currency's worth. He also announced that any country allowing its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any form of assistance to Iran would face "EXTREMELY LARGE Economic Consequences." He specifically called for an immediate halt to oil smuggling, currency swap lines, money transfers, currency exchanges, ship registrations, and shell companies, stating that the U.S. has identified parties involved in such transactions. Trump referred to this as an "Economic D-Day," referencing the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, and urged allies to stand with the U.S. to isolate and defeat the "threat" of Iran, stating these "HISTORIC STEPS" would cripple them and their ability to spread terror globally.