Washington: The United States has unveiled an extensive economic campaign, Operation Economic Outcast, aimed at severing Iran from the global financial system and disrupting the revenue streams that Washington claims sustain Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the initiative, directed by US President Donald Trump, as a strategic move from mere containment to fundamentally undermining Iran's international economic operations.

According to Anadolu Agency, the campaign expands sanctions across vital sectors of Iran's economy, targeting companies, individuals, vessels, and intermediaries involved in oil revenues, military procurement, cyber operations, and sanctions evasion. Bessent emphasized the US objective to dismantle Iran's economic lifelines, stating, "Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone."

The initiative focuses on five critical sectors deemed essential to Iran's economy: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping. Nearly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels across multiple jurisdictions have been sanctioned, including networks involved in illicit nuclear and missile technology procurement.

A central component of Operation Economic Outcast is the threat of secondary sanctions against foreign actors facilitating Iran's economic activities. Bessent warned that the US expects global compliance, with countries receiving specific timelines to cease Iran-related activities or face unilateral action.

Iran's petroleum trade is a major focus, with the US targeting networks moving oil revenues through brokers and intermediaries in various jurisdictions. The campaign also aims to dismantle financial systems enabling sanctions evasion and money laundering.

Treasury Secretary Bessent framed the campaign as a pivotal choice for Iran between economic isolation and the potential for reintegration into the global economy. He characterized the initiative as an "economic D-Day," signaling the start of a sustained campaign against Iran's economic networks. The US administration asserts that the campaign is designed to prevent Iran from rebuilding military and nuclear capabilities and financing destabilizing activities.

While emphasizing that sanctions are intended to change behavior rather than punish, Bessent presented reintegration into the global economy as an alternative to continued confrontation, warning that ongoing economic ties with Tehran could bring entities within the reach of US sanctions.