Trump warns Iran backers of economic punishment

US President Donald Trump has warned that countries providing an economic “lifeline” to Iran could face financial penalties as Washington steps up pressure on Tehran. Trump has also announced what he described as an “economic D-Day” against Iran as part of his broader campaign to weaken the country’s economy and force changes in its policies.

The latest threat reflects Trump’s continued reliance on US economic power as a key foreign policy tool. His administration has increasingly used tariffs, sanctions and other financial measures to pressure countries and governments that Washington believes support US rivals or undermine its strategic objectives.

Analysts, however, question whether the strategy can deliver the same results against Iran as it has in cases where the United States enjoys greater cooperation from other major economies.

Iran maintains important economic ties with China and Russia, two countries that have strong reasons to resist US pressure. Russia already faces extensive American sanctions and has significantly reduced its dependence on the US-led global financial system. As a result, additional US economic pressure may have a limited impact on Moscow’s willingness to maintain trade and other economic relations with Tehran.

China could present an even greater challenge for Washington. Beijing has repeatedly shown that it is prepared to resist or work around US sanctions when its own economic and strategic interests are at stake. China remains one of Iran’s most important trading partners, particularly in the energy sector, making Beijing a key factor in any US effort to isolate Tehran economically.

Paul Musgrave, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Arab media that Trump would face significant difficulties in making his pressure campaign fully effective.

Musgrave said Trump was attempting to impose a coordinated sanctions regime largely through unilateral US pressure, even though such efforts have traditionally depended on cooperation from multiple countries. He noted that an effective international campaign would require support from major powers, including China and Russia, as well as cooperation among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Trump said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday that his campaign against Iran would become one of the most devastating economic operations ever directed against a country.

The statement signals a major escalation in Washington’s economic pressure on Tehran. Trump’s administration appears determined to use America’s financial influence, access to global markets and trade relationships to make it increasingly difficult for Iran to maintain its international economic ties.

However, experts warn that the strategy could also create significant economic consequences beyond Iran. If Washington threatens countries that continue trading with Tehran, those governments could face a difficult choice between maintaining their economic interests and avoiding US penalties.

The effectiveness of Trump’s strategy will largely depend on whether Washington can convince major trading partners to cooperate. China and Russia are likely to remain the biggest obstacles, particularly if they view continued economic engagement with Iran as important to their own strategic interests.

The latest move also comes after a series of contentious trade battles during Trump’s second presidential term, highlighting his continued preference for economic pressure as a means of pursuing foreign policy goals. Whether the approach can isolate Iran without triggering further tensions with major global powers remains uncertain.