Tehran claims world has approved its victory while Washington pivots to economic warfare and resumes domestic enforcement against women.
Published
Iran's president declared Friday that the world had "approved" the country's victory in the ongoing conflict, as the United States prepared to unveil sweeping new economic sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran without major military intervention. Vice President JD Vance framed the sanctions as "the most effective tool that we have," while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC the measures would likely negate the need for major US military operations.
President Trump warned of an "economic D-Day" against Iran, though Tehran has long experience weathering sanctions. Iran criticized the forthcoming measures as exercises in "extraterritorial sovereignty," rejecting Washington's right to impose punitive measures on third-party nations and companies dealing with Tehran. The hostile rhetoric on both sides shows no signs of abating as the new sanctions approach.
With military hostilities quieting, Iranian authorities have restarted enforcement of the mandatory hijab law after a period of relative leniency during the conflict. Human rights organizations had documented a significant decrease in hijab enforcement operations while resources were directed toward the war effort. The renewed crackdown marks a return to pre-war domestic policing priorities.
The timing of the economic offensive coincides with midterm election pressures, as the Trump administration seeks to demonstrate a path to victory without the political and military costs of direct intervention.