White House: ‘Economic D-Day Is Beginning, the Largest Financial Offensive Ever’

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to present the Senate today (Monday) with the plan for new sanctions to be imposed on the Iranian regime. Bessent published an op-ed overnight (between Sunday and Monday) in the Financial Times, again warning countries against maintaining economic ties with Iran. “We are entering the final stage, at dawn, economic D-Day begins, the largest financial offensive ever,” he wrote.

The White House will hold a press conference this evening (Israel time) outlining the steps the U.S. will take, and Bessent warned countries that assist the regime in Tehran: “To become a haven for terrorism is, in the eyes of the United States, to become a global pariah. Any connection to Iran, whether intentional or through willful blindness, will hasten the economic isolation of those countries and entities.

“The Iranian regime maintains a network of proxies that perpetuates its terrorism. Its helpers buy and transport its oil, enable the flow of money to it through money-changing businesses and free-trade zones, receive its flights and maintain records on its behalf. They turn a blind eye to fuel transfers at sea and the illegal use of their banks.”

“If Tehran attacks in response to this move, it will face a determined response. Countries that believe ties with Iran are a safe path are mistaken. Countries and entities that sever financial and commercial ties will breathe new life into their economies. The world must understand that our goal is to cut off every economic oxygen pipeline that continues to sustain the Iranian regime.”

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, threatened last night that “if the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz. If Trump takes new aggressive measures, we will respond with force. If neighboring countries cooperate with the economic war, we will attack their interests. Any cooperation or support on their part will be interpreted as war.”