US launches operation targeting Iran's financial enablers

The United States launched "Operation Economic Outcast" against Iran on Monday, targeting Tehran's financial networks and enablers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the campaign during a press conference, vowing to remove any entity facilitating Iranian money laundering from the US dollar system. The Treasury Department issued determinations against five critical sectors—digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping—that Iran uses to support its economy. Bessent stated President Donald Trump is contacting world leaders to cease cooperation with Iran, describing the effort as an "economic onslaught" to isolate the regime. The campaign follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran roughly six months ago, with the conflict now stalled amid disputes over the Strait of Hormuz. Bessent presented Iran with a choice between "complete global isolation" or a path back to normalcy.