The 60-day window for the United States and Iran to reach a final agreement has officially closed with no deal in sight, as President Donald Trump escalated his demands, calling for Iran to “put up the white flag of surrender.” Simultaneously, the Trump administration is preparing an unprecedented new phase of economic pressure, described by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as “measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation of a country.” This intensified campaign aims to cripple Tehran’s finances, with Iranian oil loadings plummeting and its economy projected to contract significantly. Experts suggest this “maximum pressure campaign on steroids,” combining financial restrictions with a de facto blockade, is designed to exploit vulnerabilities like gasoline deficits and weakening government revenues, potentially triggering domestic unrest similar to the 2019 protests. However, the effectiveness hinges on whether the pain reaches the elite networks tied to the IRGC and the supreme leader, who have historically insulated themselves, or remains concentrated on the general population, raising questions about the ultimate impact on forcing broader concessions from the regime.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
