US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Sunday (local time) that the Trump administration is entering the 'final stage' of its campaign against Iran, announcing what he called an 'Economic Day D,' aimed at severing Iran's economic ties.
In a post on the social network X, Bessent noted that President Trump has dismantled Iran's military potential, destroyed nearly one hundred percent of its military factories, and buried its nuclear program.
He continued: 'We are entering the final stage. At dawn, Economic Day D will begin—the most massive financial operation ever launched against an adversary.' Bessent accused Iran of using security guarantees as a form of 'extortion,' asserting that Tehran expected an inevitable Iranian response while American coercion could be negotiated.
Bessent emphasized that under President Trump's leadership, this era has ended, and those who fear the consequences of defying Tehran should not underestimate the cost of challenging Washington. He reported that the President has created conditions for the US government to deploy the full spectrum of its authority against Iran.
'Our goal is to cut every economic artery that supports the tyrannical regime until Tehran is left alone,' Bessent added. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned on Monday that Tehran could halt all oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and other parts of the Persian Gulf if the United States' 'economic war' against Iran continues.
Rezaei also warned in an X post that Iran would consider any country supporting or participating in the US economic campaign against Tehran as an 'act of war.' He stated: 'If the economic war continues, not a drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf. Iran will consider the participation or support of any country in America's economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war.'
These warnings came amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington over US plans to impose tougher economic measures against Iran. Earlier on Sunday, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked the United States following new threats of economic sanctions from President Donald Trump, using satirical comments to argue that harsh economic restrictions ultimately have the opposite effect.
In his X message, Ghalibaf commented on the limitations of trying to manage deep financial difficulties through short-term government interventions, sharing a sarcastic view on how economic pressure develops. He joked: 'Importing frozen meat to stabilize meat prices. Okay, that might work. But what about a plan for bonds, importing frozen income? Frozen housing buyers for housing? Frozen salaries for wages? Frozen foreign policy leads to a frozen economy. The only thing still moving? The Iranian boomerang.'
Meanwhile, according to Al Jazeera, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai also condemned the US sanctions threat, stating that war and sanctions 'are not unfamiliar' to Iran. He noted that the Islamic Republic has been under sanctions for 20 years. Iran's response followed Trump's announcement on Wednesday of the 'Economic Day D' campaign against Iran, calling it 'the most devastating economic operation ever undertaken against any country.'
Trump stated that the campaign would be an 'Economic War and Isolation on an unprecedented scale' and called on US allies to join Washington in isolating Iran. Trump also mentioned that Washington has 'very severe sanctions' against Iran and hinted that additional measures might be announced. Addressing technology leaders, Trump said: 'We have things we can sanction. We have very severe sanctions, and we will see what happens.'
He added that Washington would determine its next step based on developments, noting that the situation could lead either to a significant drop in oil prices or the continuation of existing measures. On Thursday (local time), US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also warned Iran of 'the harshest sanctions in history,' Al Jazeera reported, stating that Washington would seek coordinated economic isolation of Tehran and aim to 'topple this regime.' He strongly urged US allies to join Washington in isolating Tehran, arguing that these measures would weaken Iran's ability to influence the global arena. Bessent added that a press conference on Monday, August 24, would reveal 'exactly what we are going to do' against Iran.