US escalates Iran pressure with sanctions on crypto, aviation, shipping and gold as part of ‘economic D-Day’

The U.S. Treasury Department, under Secretary Scott Bessent, has launched what it's calling "Operation Economic Outcast," a coordinated campaign to restrict Iran's access to financial tools including cryptocurrency. The initiative targets digital assets that officials argue are helping sustain Iran's economy, and extends beyond crypto to encompass aviation, shipping, and gold sectors. The Treasury characterized the effort as a "financial offensive" designed to constrain Iranian government resources.

The move reflects Washington's strategy of using financial pressure and sanctions architecture to limit Iran's economic capacity. Crypto has become a focal point in such efforts, as digital assets can facilitate cross-border transactions outside traditional banking channels that are already heavily sanctioned.

• Treasury is targeting cryptocurrency specifically as part of a broader multi-sector sanctions push against Iran's economy.
• The campaign, branded as "Operation Economic Outcast," addresses what U.S. officials view as Iran's use of digital assets to circumvent existing financial restrictions.
• The action underscores how crypto has become integrated into geopolitical sanctions enforcement alongside traditional economic tools.