Six Months In, Iran’s Regime Stands, U.S. Goals Remain Unmet

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | A man holding an Iranian flag in an apartment destroyed by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Tehran earlier this year. Credit: Arash Khamooshi/Polaris for The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Trump’s replacement of a military war with a heightened economic one is not expected to alter Iran’s strategy, while further impoverishing its people.

It was supposed to be quick.

Still, six months after the U.S. and Israel launched massive airstrikes on Iran, the conflict drags on. The Trump administration has replaced its military war with an economic one, but the result is likely to be no different, analysts said, with a lack of American clarity about goals, a decline in American credibility and a strategic defeat.

One thing remains constant, however. The ordinary people of Iran are bearing the brunt of the war, victims of both the United States and their own leaders.

On the first day of the war, Feb. 28, President Trump promised Iranians that “the hour of your freedom is at hand.” Six months later, his administration is trying to impoverish them further, hoping against hope that they will revolt against a repressive, militarized regime and overthrow it.

The Iranian leadership, increasingly dominated by military men, sees its own survival as the nation’s, and it considers the sacrifices of ordinary Iranians as a necessary act of patriotism and even martyrdom. It has been ever more ruthless in stamping out the slightest signs of dissent. » | Steven Erlanger | Steven Erlanger, based in Berlin, has covered Iran and the diplomacy around it for many years. | Friday, August 28, 2026

Iran and Oman Announce Hormuz Deal - What Does This Mean for Trump’s ‘Economic Onslaught’

August 27, 2026 | Pakistan is the latest country to hit back after the White House threatened countries who trade with Iran.

China has already said it won’t be taking orders from America.

So is this another failed bid by Donald Trump to bend Iran and its backers to his will? Or could this actually work?

Several senior Iranian leaders have recently acknowledged the economic pain that the country and its people are feeling.

On this episode of The Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Mohammed Marandi, a professor at Tehran University and a former adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiating team to get a view from inside Iran.

Trump’s Iran Gamble: Will It Backfire? | The Global Story

Aug 27, 2026 | There have been a lot of sanctions programmes against Iran. But this week US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast, which promises to go further than ever before. It will punish not just Iran but any country helping Iran - including China. It is the Trump administration’s latest attempt to end the war. Will it work? We speak to Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University, and ask whether in trying to end one war, President Trump risks starting a global trade conflict.

China Responds to US Sanctions: "Illegal" Threat over Iran Trade Branded ‘Operation Economic Outcast’

Aug 25, 2026 | China has officially slammed US threats of secondary sanctions over its trade with Iran, calling the measures illegal and vowing to take "all necessary measures" to defend its national interests. As Beijing continues to purchase an estimated 80% of Iran’s oil exports, this standoff puts the Trump administration's "Operation Economic Outcast" to the ultimate test. While US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions on 60 individuals, entities, and vessels tied to Iranian trade, Chinese financial institutions were noticeably absent from the list. When asked why the White House stopped short of targeting Beijing directly, Bessent responded: "Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?"

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It doesn’t matter what scheme or ‘operation’ these ineffective people dream up, they are destined to lose this war with Iran. Iranians are an extremely intelligent and very well-educated people. They are also wily. If I am not greatly mistaken, victory is Iran’s for the taking. — © Mark Alexander

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Launches Operation Economic Outcast

August 24, 2026 | Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a sweeping new US economic campaign against Iran and warned countries, banks, and companies around the world that helping the Iranian regime could cost them access to the US dollar system.

Bessent unveiled "Operation Economic Outcast," a campaign aimed at severing Iran's financial connections and revenue sources around the globe. Treasury announced new sectoral sanctions targeting digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping, while the Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals, and vessels linked to Iranian oil revenue, nuclear and missile procurement, and cyber operations.

Bessent said the US will pursue a "zero leakage" approach, warned that no country or entity is beyond the reach of US sanctions, and said nations enabling Iran are being given defined timelines to stop identified activities. He also said a major financial institution could face sanctions by the end of the week.

During questions, Bessent addressed potential sanctions against Chinese banks and shipping firms, pressure on countries doing business with Iran, Treasury bond yields and buybacks, the US-Canada relationship, and why the administration is giving Iran's economic partners an opportunity to change course before imposing additional secondary sanctions.



LESEN SIE AUCH:

USA wollen Iran wirtschaftlich „erdrosseln“: Bessent verkündet Start von Operation „Economic Outcast“: Die USA hatten einen „ökonomischen D-Day“ gegen den Iran angekündigt. US-Finanzminister Bessent droht nun Handelspartnern weltweit. Welche neuen Sanktionen kommen? »

À LIRE AUSSI :

Nouvelles sanctions, ultimatum aux pays partenaires, menace sur le système dollar... Washington lance son offensive économique contre l’Iran : Les États qui laisseraient des entités « faciliter le blanchiment d’argent au nom de l’Iran » se verront « expulsés du système dollar », a prévenu lundi lors d’une conférence de presse le secrétaire américain au Trésor, Scott Bessent, ajoutant que « le compte à rebours (avait) commencé ». »