Middle East crisis Iran war

US Launches “Operation Economic Outcast” Against Iran

The US has launched “Operation Economic Outcast” to isolate the Iranian regime economically, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a press conference on Monday evening. As part of the effort, new sanctions are being imposed on more than 60 people, companies and ships that the US says are helping Iran acquire nuclear and missile technology, generate oil revenues and conduct cyber operations, writes the Wall Street Journal.

– There should be no doubt about the US stance: Anyone who has economic ties to this murderous regime can expect to face the full force of the American state, says Bessent.

In an opinion piece in the Financial Times on Sunday, Bessent wrote that the US goal is to “cut off every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime, until Tehran stands alone”.

Analysis: Trump needs Xi to get to Iran – but threats don’t bite China

China is being singled out as the key when the US is to present strong economic measures against Iran tonight. President Donald Trump has promised an “economic D-Day” and warned that “enormous” consequences await countries that continue to trade with Iran.

Trump must get China, which accounts for about 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports, on board, writes John Liu in CNN. He does not believe that China will care about Trump’s threats and emphasizes that there are few ways for the US to put pressure on Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“Trump has every reason to prevent tensions between the world’s two largest economies from flaring up again,” he writes.

David Pierson and Berry Wang had a similar analysis in the New York Times this weekend. They believe that China need not worry about Trump’s latest threat – if it comes true. China holds a very strong trump card:

"A big reason that pressure could backfire on the US is that China has the ability to stop deliveries of critical minerals to US companies."

Chinese minerals are important for US manufacturing of vehicles, phones and weapons, among other things.

Expert: Stricter control more likely than new sanctions

It is more likely that the US will tighten its existing sanctions against Iran than introduce completely new ones. This is what Miad Maleki, a former official at the Treasury Department, told CNN. He believes that no country has been subject to as extensive sanctions as Iran.

- I would say that we have reached maximum capacity, but that we are not exerting maximum pressure.

Donald Trump has promised to present historically strong sanctions on Monday that will put pressure on Iran. The president calls Monday "an economic D-Day".

There are few details about the economic measures, but they are expected to be directed, among other things, at countries that support Iran.