25 August 2026
Iran says it has prepared a two-year economic plan to withstand an expanded US sanctions campaign after Washington announced what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as an “economic D-Day” against Tehran.
Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said the country was ready for the intensified pressure and had plans to counter the latest measures, according to reports. Tehran has portrayed the US campaign as another attempt to force Iran into submission and said it would respond to the pressure.
US expands sanctions
The United States announced new sanctions targeting around 60 individuals, companies and vessels linked to Iran. The measures cover sectors including shipping, aviation, technology, gold and digital assets.
Washington has also warned countries and businesses that continuing to maintain financial ties with Iran could expose them to further US penalties. The campaign is intended to cut off Iran’s remaining sources of revenue and isolate its economy from international markets.
Bessent described the campaign as an effort to achieve “economic asphyxiation”, signalling a major escalation in Washington’s use of financial pressure rather than relying solely on military action.
Iran vows to resist
Iranian officials have rejected the idea that the new sanctions will force Tehran to change course.
The government says its two-year strategy will focus on surviving the sanctions, protecting domestic economic activity and finding ways to maintain trade despite restrictions.
But the pressure is already being felt. Iran’s currency has fallen to record lows, while inflation and the wider economic damage caused by sanctions and the ongoing conflict have increased pressure on households and businesses.
Global economic concerns
The confrontation could have consequences well beyond Iran. China remains a crucial buyer of Iranian oil, while the Strait of Hormuz remains strategically important to global energy markets.
Analysts say Washington faces a delicate balance: increasing pressure on Iran without triggering a wider disruption to international trade, energy supplies or relations with major economic powers such as China.
For now, Tehran says it is prepared for a prolonged economic confrontation.
The coming months will test whether Iran’s two-year survival strategy can withstand Washington’s expanded sanctions campaign — and whether economic pressure brings Tehran back to negotiations or pushes the conflict into a more dangerous phase.
