US threatens 'greatest financial offensive' against Iran; Tehran vows to halt oil exports

The United States is poised to unleash what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls "the greatest financial offensive ever marshalled" against Iran, with sweeping economic sanctions set to take effect Monday. These measures are designed to target Iran's international trade partners, signaling a dramatic escalation in economic pressure.

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At dawn begins an economic D-Day, the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary.

In response, Iran has issued a stern warning, vowing to shut down all oil exports from the Persian Gulf if the "economic war" persists. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated on social media that "not a single drop of oil will be exported" under such circumstances, and Iran would consider any nation participating in or supporting the U.S. economic actions as an act of war.

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if the economic war continues, “not ‌a single drop of oil will be exported”, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Arabian Gulf . "Iran will regard any country’s participation in or support for America’s economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war."

Bessent, in an opinion piece for the Financial Times, indicated that the U.S. would target nations engaging with Iran's economy, warning them to "consider the consequences of sustaining it." This move comes amid a prolonged conflict, though direct military strikes between the warring nations have ceased. However, the conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and significantly degraded Iran's military capacity while inflicting economic hardship.

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They would do well to consider ‌the consequences of sustaining it.

Iran's economy was already strained by previous international sanctions before recent attacks damaged its infrastructure. While Tehran remains defiant, officials have cautioned that further economic punishment could exacerbate hardships, potentially reignite domestic unrest, and further erode the nation's economic stability. The exact state of Iran's nuclear program, a key target for the U.S. and Israel, remains undisclosed.

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sanctions and pressure do not help resolve the problem,