Trump Shifts to 350 New Iran Sanctions and Naval Blockade as War Fails to Break Tehran
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Aug 11
Trump Shifts to 350 New Iran Sanctions and Naval Blockade as War Fails to Break Tehran
3 articles · Updated · Fortune · Aug 11
Summary
Nearly six months into the war, the Trump administration is de-emphasizing escalation and leaning on tighter sanctions plus a naval blockade to choke Iran’s oil exports after military pressure failed to force capitulation.
350 sanctions under Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s “Economic Fury” campaign have added to roughly 2,200 US measures since 2018, with officials arguing Iran is more vulnerable as evasion routes through places like the UAE narrow.
Iran’s economy is already under severe strain: year-on-year inflation has reached 77%, the rial is down more than 10% from its prewar level, and industrial capacity has been heavily damaged.
Analysts say the pressure may still fall short of Trump’s goals, noting decades of sanctions have not changed Tehran’s nuclear stance or loosened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
China remains the key leverage point—buying more than 90% of Iran’s oil exports—but hitting major Chinese banks could open a new front with Beijing ahead of Trump’s planned September meeting with Xi Jinping.