Escalation: United States imposes crushing sanctions on Iran

President Donald Trump declared the start of what he called the “most crushing economic operation” against Iran on Truth Social, warning that “ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences” and calling the effort an “ECONOMIC D‑DAY.”

The administration has reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil, and the 60‑day waiver that had allowed some Iranian exports under a June memorandum of understanding expired on August 21. The UAE announced an indefinite trade embargo on Iran this week, Tajikistan finalized a deal to accept Iranian oil, and Iran’s foreign minister dismissed the threats as a diversion while state media said the moves were a continuation of long‑standing U.S. pressure.

At the same time the U.S. military has quietly established a shipping corridor through the southern channel of the Strait of Hormuz to keep crude moving. Fifteen to twenty tankers have transited each night, moving roughly 10 million barrels a day (and at times far more); the operation is run from a task force at Fort Bragg after a recent two‑week Central Command campaign degraded Iranian radar and maritime surveillance, and U.S. forces have shot down drones and cruise missiles while escorting ships.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources