U.S. Launches D‑Day Economic Campaign to Isolate Iran

Overview

• The United States unveiled the operation on Monday, August 24, imposing sectoral sanctions on digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and maritime trade while warning that countries or firms that aid Iran could be excluded from the dollar payments system.
• Tehran called the measures 'economic terrorism', warned any country that joins the restrictions would be 'considered an enemy', and threatened retaliatory actions against those it sees as complicit.
• Independent trackers show Iran’s oil exports plunged from roughly 2 million barrels per day before the war to about 0.4 million bpd by mid‑August, and maritime authorities have logged about 69 incidents since February, deepening inflation and a collapse of the rial.
• Major partners reacted unevenly: China publicly criticized the U.S. push, the UAE has suspended trade ties with Iran, Oman and Pakistan are conducting shuttle diplomacy, and Houthi attacks on shipping continue to disrupt regional trade routes.
• The campaign intensifies pressure on ordinary Iranians and sharpens a split inside Iran between leaders urging a deal to relieve the economy and hardliners pressing continued military resistance, a division that will shape whether the crisis moves toward negotiation or escalation.