US Launches Major Sanctions Campaign to Sever Iran's Financial and Trade Networks

The United States initiated a comprehensive economic isolation campaign against Iran on Monday, targeting the regime's financial lifelines, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin described the sanctions as the largest economic assault ever aimed at ending the Iranian threat, comparing it to the historic D-Day invasion. Washington demands that countries worldwide immediately sever all trade and business ties with Iran within a strict timeline, warning that entities violating the sanctions will be cut off from the US financial system.

The Treasury expanded secondary sanctions to five key sectors: digital assets used by the Iranian regime to evade sanctions, advanced technologies for weapons programs, gold used to stabilize the rial amid inflation, aviation for transporting fighters and arms, and shipping for moving missile components and oil. Nearly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels involved in Tehran's smuggling networks were sanctioned, including corporations and persons in Hong Kong, China, and Malaysia aiding sensitive procurement for Malek Ashtar University and Iranian defense bodies.

The US also targeted an Iranian intelligence-directed strike group responsible for attacks on critical US infrastructure and digital asset theft, offering up to $10 million for information under the "Rewards for Justice" program. Several shipping companies and intermediaries from the UAE, Singapore, Switzerland, and Hong Kong facilitating the transport of millions of barrels of oil and petrochemical products to Asia were sanctioned. Vessels flying various flags were added to the frozen assets list for carrying illicit Iranian oil.

The US government aims to dismantle Tehran's global smuggling networks by cutting off their use of digital currencies to bypass financial controls and fund covert IRGC operations. Iran's attempts to acquire advanced technology for weapons development and use of gold to prop up the collapsing rial are also targeted. Civilian airlines are exploited to transport operatives, sensitive combat components, hard currency, and gold. Maritime shipping supports missile parts movement and crude oil exports in defiance of sanctions.

Washington has set strict deadlines for all countries to halt any Iran-related trade or business activities. Any entity or bank violating these rules or aiding money laundering for Tehran will be immediately excluded from the US dollar-based financial system. President Donald Trump and Secretary Mnuchin are engaging world leaders to align with this total isolation effort, emphasizing that US patience is limited and that continued trade with Iran will carry severe economic consequences.