Iran warns Trump’s ‘economic D-Day’ will backfire on US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a defiant tone on Thursday in response to President Donald Trump’s latest pressure initiative, describing the so-called "Economic D-Day" as a misguided strategy that will ultimately weaken Washington’s standing. In a social media post, Araghchi argued that the campaign serves primarily to distract from America’s own financial vulnerabilities, including record national debt and climbing interest payments.

Failed policies revisited

"You cannot solve a crisis by creating another," Araghchi suggested, warning that doubling down on past failures would only deepen Iranian hostility toward the United States. He characterised the US approach as "economic terrorism," contending that such coercive measures endanger not only Tehran but also global commercial stability and the sovereign rights of nations worldwide. His remarks came shortly after Trump announced what he called the most severe economic operation ever imposed on any country.

Military setbacks precede economic push

Separately, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi offered a pointed assessment of Washington’s motives, asserting that the US had turned to financial warfare only after its military objectives in the region remained unfulfilled. "They claim Iran is on the verge of collapse, yet they are begging their allies for assistance," Gharibabadi wrote, accusing American policymakers of repeating miscalculations that have historically produced greater failures. He framed the new initiative as a preordained defeat dressed in economic language.

Allies caught in the middle

Trump’s announcement included a direct appeal to US partners to join the isolation effort, alongside warnings that any country—including its financial institutions, ports, or government agencies—offering Tehran a commercial lifeline would face severe repercussions. The reference to "Economic D-Day" evoked the scale of the intended shock, though Araghchi’s response suggested that Tehran views the pressure as an overreach that may strain Washington’s relationships with its own allies, particularly as global powers increasingly seek diversified energy and trade routes beyond US influence.