Trump vows ‘economic warfare’ on countries helping Iran

President Trump declared a "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER" against Iran on Wednesday night, amid ongoing negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The president wrote on Truth Social that this would be "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale." Trump warned any nation providing aid to Iran with "oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW."

He called for an "ECONOMIC D-DAY" and urged allies to stand with the United States in isolating and defeating Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed Trump's call for maximum economic pressure on Tehran, stating that the U.S. would apply the "maximum pressure to the Iranian regime." The president has escalated sanctions and maintained a naval blockade in the Arabian Sea, preventing vessels from departing Iranian ports.

The UAE announced it would cut trade with Iran after Tehran fired missiles, and Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it interfered with the talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic in the waterway has increased slightly, but remains far below prewar levels. Trump also announced he would declare the strait a U.S. territory, though he did not specify how this goal would be achieved.