Economic D-Day for Iran Could Backfire on Washington

The piece argues that Trump’s new broad sanctions strategy, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, aims to choke Iran from the global economy, but Tehran signals it will endure and could retaliate by pressuring regional oil routes and influencing partners. Washington faces a crucial test: reconciling the need for international buy-in (notably from China, which is resisting sanctions) with the risk of broader economic blowback, including higher energy prices. Without a durable, widely supported strategy, the plan risks prolonging the conflict and empowering an adversary that can withstand economic pressure.