Trump announces toughest economic campaign yet against Tehran

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has launched the toughest economic campaign to date against Tehran. In remarks released by the White House, Trump warned that any country that permits its financial institutions, companies, or airports to support Iran will face heavy consequences. He called on all U.S. allies to act together to isolate and defeat the Iranian threat, saying no one had given Tehran more opportunity to reach a deal than he had, but that Iran had squandered that chance. Trump also described the Iranian currency as worthless and on the verge of collapse. The president said oil smuggling, cash transfers and shell companies backing Iran must be stopped. He added that extremists inside Iran are on the brink of collapse and that the steps being taken will dismantle those structures.