Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Sunday that the Trump administration is preparing what he described as an unprecedented financial campaign against Iran, saying an “economic D-Day is coming” while offering few details about the measures Washington plans to impose.
“At dawn begins an economic D-Day — the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary,” Bessent wrote in a Financial Times opinion piece published one day before a scheduled Treasury Department news conference.
“The world should understand that our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains the tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” he said.
Bessent is scheduled to hold a news conference Monday at 2 p.m., where the administration could provide additional details about the effort. CNN reported that it had contacted the Treasury Department seeking further information.
The warning follows similar remarks from President Donald Trump last week. Trump also invoked an “economic D-Day” against Iran and threatened “tremendous economic consequences” for countries that continue doing business with Tehran as his administration seeks to increase pressure on the Iranian government and force it back to the negotiating table.
Bessent directed much of his warning toward countries and financial institutions that help Iran sell oil and move the proceeds through the international financial system.
“Iran’s enablers purchase and transport its petroleum,” Bessent wrote in the Financial Times, adding, “They turn a blind eye to seaborne fuel transfers and the illicit use of their banks, all while concealing the extent of their complicity.”
“In short, these countries calculate appeasement of the regime to be the safer course. But they would do well to consider the consequences of sustaining it,” he wrote.
The op-ed did not identify specific countries that could face new penalties or explain what additional sanctions, banking restrictions or other measures the administration intends to announce.
Bessent also warned Tehran against responding militarily to the coming economic pressure, writing that any such action would prompt Trump to “respond swiftly and decisively.”
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