Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid out plans for an “economic D-Day” against Iran on Monday, seeking to further isolate the regime from the rest of the world.
The U.S. will expand its use of secondary sanctions against entities and countries that engage with Iran. Bessent also said any country that helps Iran will be removed from the dollar-based financial system.
In addition, he targeted five of Iran’s “most vital lifelines”: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping.
But Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder and CEO of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation think tank, said those are actually lifelines for the Iranian people, not the regime.
“Digital assets and gold are how ordinary Iranians protect their savings from inflation,” he explained in a post on X. “Technology keeps Iranians connected with the world. Aviation keeps Iranian families connected with loved ones across borders. Shipping is how essential goods, including food and medicine, reach Iran.”
