West Asia highlights: U.S. sanctions on Iran will ‘collapse this regime’, says Bessent
Iran calls new U.S. sanctions ‘economic terrorism’, ‘crimes against humanity’
Moderate Military Madness$MODER
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) he was launching a major new campaign to target Iran’s economy, threatening “tremendous” punishment on any country that helps or does business with the Islamic republic.
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The intensified economic pressure campaign comes as the war nears its sixth month with no immediate diplomatic or military off-ramp in sight and the vital Strait of Hormuz still significantly choked-off. With November elections quickly approaching, Mr. Trump is also facing renewed domestic scrutiny over the war’s costs on U.S. consumers and toll on the military.
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“Today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY! This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.