President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday responded to President Donald Trump's threat of a "crushing economic operation" against Tehran by suggesting that the U.S. is facing its own economic "crisis."
"The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs," Araghchi wrote in a post to X.
"Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat -- and enmity of Iranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide," he wrote.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti
Aug 19, 2026, 7:55 PM EDT
Trump announces 'ECONOMIC D-DAY' on Iran
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is embarking on what he called the "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY."
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media while touring the White House helipad construction on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, August 19, 2026.
Al Drago/EPA/Shutterstock
"Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences," Trump said in the post. "Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are."
The announcement from the president is a ratcheting up of the already intense economic pressure that the U.S. has placed on Iran, including sanctions targeting Iran's oil sales and the naval blockade.
"This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat," Trump said in the post. "These maniacs are on the ropes, and these HISTORIC MEASURES will cripple them and their ability to project terror worldwide."
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Aug 19, 2026, 4:28 PM EDT
Trump leaves door open for more Iran sanctions as US looks to increase economic pressure on Iran
President Donald Trump continued to threaten greater economic pressure on Iran, saying that there are more sanctions the U.S. could use to tighten their economic chokehold on the nation.
"Well, we have things that we could sanction. We have very draconian sanctions, and we'll see what happens," Trump said when asked U.S. officials saying they will be announcing measures to put more economic pressure on Iran.
The president then pivoted to say that the Strait of Hormuz is "open" and tout that ships are getting through.
"Right now, the Strait is open. A lot of boats are coming through. People aren't reporting that. And that may slow down a little bit at some point. But right now, a lot of boats are coming through. The naval blockade has been extremely effective," Trump said.
"No boats have gotten into Iran, but they are getting in for other places. But we'll see. We're going to see what happens. It'll either be extremely good and oil prices are going to drop like a rock, or we'll continue to do exactly what we're doing," Trump later added.
The president also noted that the MOU that the U.S. and Iran signed "didn't turn out to be what they said."
"You know, when they tell us one thing and they do another," Trump said.
Aug 19, 2026, 4:26 PM EDT
UAE announces indefinite Iran trade embargo on Iran
The United Arab Emirates announced an indefinite trade embargo on Iran on Wednesday, accusing Iranian forces of firing two ballistic missiles at its territory.
Iran denied launching missiles and described the reported attack as a "false flag operation" by Israel and the U.S.
According to the World Trade Organization, trade between the two countries was worth roughly $28 billion in 2024 -- the last year where there is a full data set.
Iran imported roughly $21 billion in goods from the UAE, and the UAE imported about $7 billion from Iran. Iran’s top import from the UAE was electronics, and its top export was oil, per the WTO.
But more important than the bilateral commercial trade relationship is the suspension of financial transactions. Shadow companies in the UAE help Iran export oil, and exchange houses help Iran move money around without accessing the formal global banking system.
It is unclear if the U.S. played a role in the UAE's decision or if this is part of the current financial squeeze strategy by U.S., but the announcement came after a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahya.
