Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Trump administration’s economic sanctions are currently the most effective way to impact Iran. Speaking in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, during the Pentagon’s ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ tour, Hegseth stated that although the U.S. could still consider military strikes, economic pressure remains the primary approach. ‘If kinetic strikes are needed, we’ll use them. But right now, economic pressure is most effective,’ he said.
These remarks followed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s preview of a new economic campaign aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran. Bessent advised countries to sever financial ties with Iran to avoid repercussions, such as being disconnected from the U.S. dollar system. The initiative, labeled ‘Operation Economic Outcast,’ offers a chance for global correction without destabilizing the financial system.
Bessent added that President Trump is in communication with world leaders, and U.S. departments are urging counterparts to cut off ties with Iran. ‘Consequences will follow swiftly for those who do not comply,’ he warned.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the U.S.’s actions, stating on social platform X that the U.S. lacks the economic capacity to further isolate countries. He argued that increased economic pressure forces Iran to engage in dialogue about its nuclear program, aligning with President Trump’s demands.
The Treasury’s actions come after the U.S. canceled a joint military exercise with South Korea due to resource strains caused by the conflict in Iran. Additionally, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee requested a hearing on the prolonged deployments affecting U.S. service members.
In other global developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia plans to draft more troops for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the U.S. military launched a strike on a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific, marking a significant counter-narcotics operation.
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