Washington, Aug 20 (Sputnik/UNI) US President Donald Trump has announced the launch of intensified economic pressure on Iran, on top of the heavy sanctions already imposed, describing it as the “most crushing economic operation” in history against Iran over its alleged refusal to reach a deal with the United States.
“No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a Deal than me. TRAGICALLY, for them, they have failed to take it. Therefore, today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The US President said that any country whose businesses and government entities are providing support to Iran will face tremendous economic consequences.
“Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences. Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies – It all needs to stop NOW,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He described his economic operation against Iran as an isolation on an unprecedented scale and called on US allies to join these measures.
“This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” he added.
Earlier, Trump told the media that the United States could put even more economic pressure on Iran on top of the heavy sanctions already imposed.
“Well, we have things that we could sanction. We have very draconian sanctions, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.
CNN has reported, citing US officials, that the US authorities had informed their political allies that they are shifting to a strategy of gradually economically “strangling” Iran instead of pursuing their previous course of military action. The officials said a new package of sanctions against Iran was expected to be introduced this week, while the blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.
On Tuesday, Trump said that Washington was not holding and did not plan to hold any talks with Tehran.
