US President Donald Trump issued his latest threat in the war with Iran, vowing to impose “tremendous economic consequences” on countries that do business with Iran.
PHOTO: AL DRAGO/NYTIMES

The message behind Trump’s threats of ‘economic warfare’ against Iran

· The Straits Times
  • Trump has launched a severe economic campaign against Iran, combining sanctions, a naval blockade, and threats to cripple Iran’s economy without seeking full-scale war.
  • Iran remains resilient despite economic pain and military strikes, emboldened by US reluctance to escalate and supported by key partners like China.
  • The US faces political and strategic challenges, including upcoming elections, high gas prices, limited leverage on China, and uncertainty over Iran’s possible military responses.

WASHINGTON – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried to reassure investors worried about the pressure campaign on Iran on Aug 20, declaring that a resumption of “large-scale” fighting was unlikely.

The problem for the Trump administration is that Iran was also listening.