Iran Calls Trump's 'Economic D-Day' Campaign 'Economic Terrorism'

August 21, 2026 | 12:24 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The United States is escalating its economic campaign against Iran, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying Washington believes its so-called “Economic D-Day” strategy could isolate Tehran and ultimately bring about regime change without requiring another large-scale military operation.

The campaign centers on using sanctions, trade restrictions and financial pressure to cut Iran off from the international economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned countries and companies that continue providing economic support to Tehran that they could face severe consequences.

US Says Economic Pressure Could Trigger Regime Change

Bessent said on Thursday that Washington expects the economic campaign to achieve its objective of changing Iran's government.

“It is going to work in Iran and we are going to collapse this regime,” Bessent told U.S. broadcaster CNBC, as cited by DW.

He said the United States would seek to isolate Iran economically through a coordinated international campaign.

“This is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world. And we are going to them and saying you are either with us or against us,” Bessent said.

According to Bessent, imposing maximum economic pressure could also reduce the need for a renewed large-scale military campaign against Iran.

“If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart, but I will emphasize that is for now,” he said.

When asked whether Washington would also pressure China to participate in efforts to isolate Iran, Bessent declined to discuss the matter publicly.

“Many conversations are best to have in private,” he said.

Iran Calls Sanctions 'Economic Terrorism'

According to DW, Iran has strongly condemned the latest U.S. sanctions and trade restrictions, describing them as “economic terrorism” and crimes against humanity.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said the measures would ultimately hurt ordinary Iranians rather than resolve the conflict.

“Sanctions and economic pressure are the other side of the coin of war and military aggression,” the ministry said in a statement Thursday.

The statement came after Trump warned that countries allowing their financial institutions, businesses, airports or government entities to provide “any type of lifeline” to Iran would face “tremendous economic consequences.”

The widening economic confrontation comes amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran, as the Trump administration seeks to use financial and commercial isolation as a central tool in its campaign against Iran.

What Is 'Economic D-Day'?

The term “Economic D-Day” refers to Washington's intensified campaign to apply maximum economic pressure on Iran and sever the financial and commercial channels that support its economy.

Trump has described the effort as the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.” He said the United States would target activities including oil smuggling, financial transfers, currency exchange networks, ship registrations and front companies linked to Iran.

The campaign also seeks to pressure other countries that maintain economic ties with Tehran to choose between continuing those relationships and facing potential U.S. economic consequences.

China, one of Iran's major oil customers, has already rejected the pressure campaign and called for the conflict to be resolved through diplomatic and political means.

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