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President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new campaign of economic warfare against Iran on Wednesday, vowing to isolate Tehran on an unprecedented scale and warning that countries, banks and businesses that continue providing the Islamic Republic with an economic lifeline could themselves face severe consequences from the United States.

Trump unveiled the initiative in a Truth Social post, arguing that Iran had squandered an extraordinary opportunity to negotiate an agreement with Washington and would now face the consequences.

“No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a Deal than me. TRAGICALLY, for them, they have failed to take it,” he wrote.

The president said the United States would now move to choke off Iran’s remaining connections to the international economy, with penalties potentially extending beyond Tehran to foreign governments and entities that help it circumvent American pressure.

“Therefore, today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY! This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.”

Trump portrayed Iran as already badly weakened militarily and economically, asserting that much of the country’s military infrastructure had been devastated.

“Their navy is gone, their air force is destroyed, their military factories are now rubble, their currency is worthless, and their country is hanging by a thread.”

The president then broadened his warning to governments, banks, corporations and other institutions worldwide, saying those that continue facilitating Iranian economic activity could find themselves targeted by Washington.

“Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences.”

Trump listed several methods that he said must immediately cease, including schemes used to move Iranian oil and money or conceal Tehran’s involvement in international transactions.

“Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies – It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are.”

Describing the new pressure campaign as “an ECONOMIC D-DAY,” Trump called on America’s allies to join the effort and help cut Iran off from the global economy.

“This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat.”

Trump predicted that the measures would sharply restrict Iran’s ability to operate and finance activities abroad, while again declaring that Tehran would never be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon.

“These maniacs are on the ropes, and these HISTORIC MEASURES will cripple them and their ability to project terror worldwide. IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”

The announcement came only hours after Trump told reporters that the Strait of Hormuz could become less strategically significant as additional energy pipelines are constructed and alternative routes become available.

“Record numbers of pipelines are being built. So I think the Hormuz Strait is not going to be quite as important as it was in the past,” Trump said.

When questioned about additional sanctions Washington could impose on Tehran, Trump indicated that the administration still had powerful economic tools at its disposal.

“We have things that we could sanction on Iran. We have very draconian sanctions, and we’ll see what happens.”

Those remarks followed another Truth Social statement on Tuesday in which Trump said Washington and Tehran were not engaged in negotiations as the 60-day window for talks reached its conclusion.

“There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.”

That assertion appeared at odds with earlier remarks Trump made to Fox News suggesting that Washington was conducting peace discussions with Iran through a secret communications channel involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The IRGC rejected that account. Spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that Trump’s claim was a “delusion” and insisted that no discussions were taking place between American representatives and IRGC officials.

Mohebbi further maintained that Iran’s recognized diplomatic institutions were also not conducting negotiations with Washington, blaming the absence of talks on what he described as Washington’s “breach of promises.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei separately dismissed reports that secret contacts between the United States and the IRGC had taken place with the involvement of representatives from Iraqi Kurdistan. He also rejected claims that American and Iranian officials had held a covert meeting in Erbil.

Baghaei described the reports as “media techniques and psychological operations used to sow discord among Iran’s decision-making bodies.”

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic budget crisis is threatening to force the complete closure of Me’aras Hamachpeilah just weeks before the Tishrei Yomim Tovim, with Israel’s Religious Services Ministry ordering preparations to shut the site within 14 days unless funding is restored.

The warning follows an interim order issued by the High Court of Justice freezing budget transfers that had been approved for the operation of holy sites. Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan says the order has left the ministry without an approved funding source to continue operating Me’aras Hamachpeilah and other sites overseen by the National Center for the Development of Holy Places.

In letters sent to senior officials, Avidan instructed them to prepare for the possibility that the National Center’s operations will cease at the beginning of September, while a separate urgent directive lays out preparations to close Me’aras Hamachpeilah entirely.

Avidan wrote to ministry Deputy Director-General Yisrael Deri and National Center comptroller Ora Doron that although the Knesset Finance Committee approved budget transfers needed to fund ongoing operations, Justice Alex Stein subsequently issued a temporary order blocking implementation of the transfers.

“Therefore,” Avidan wrote, “since without approval of the budget request the ministry has no budgetary source to maintain the ongoing operations of the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, I hereby inform you that if a solution is not found by the end of August, the operations of the National Center, including the various sites, will cease immediately at the beginning of September. Please prepare accordingly.”

In a second urgent letter addressed to Amitai Cohen, director of the Me’aras Hamachpeilah administration, and Uri Tzubari of the Kiryat Arba Religious Council, Avidan detailed the measures that would have to be taken if the funding crisis is not resolved.

According to Avidan, the Religious Services Ministry is responsible for financing and maintaining the day-to-day operation of Me’aras Hamachpeilah. However, the site’s operating budget is not incorporated into the permanent base of the state budget and instead relies almost entirely on coalition funds.

With those funds now frozen by the High Court, Avidan said the ministry has been left without an authorized source from which it can legally pay the expenses required to keep the site functioning.

“The ministry is not withdrawing and is not shirking its responsibility toward Me’aras Hamachpeilah, which is a heritage site of supreme religious and historical importance,” Avidan wrote. “However, in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel, and as a government ministry obligated to operate according to the rules of proper administration, the ministry is not permitted to allow or continue any contractual engagements without actual budgetary coverage.”

Avidan therefore ordered officials to immediately begin preparing for a complete shutdown of Me’aras Hamachpeilah within 14 days.

Under the contingency plan, all visitors, mispallelim and tourists would be barred from entering the site, and the gates of Me’aras Hamachpeilah would be locked.

Employees working at the site would receive termination notices, while contracts with outside companies and service providers responsible for cleaning, maintenance, transportation and other operations would also be discontinued.

All scheduled events, simchos, ceremonies and other activities at Me’aras Hamachpeilah would be canceled immediately, with organizers instructed to be notified that their events could no longer take place.

Officials were also ordered to urgently coordinate with the IDF, Israel Police and Border Police for the transfer of physical and security responsibility for the building to the security forces once the civilian security and crowd-management operations cease functioning.

Nonessential systems would be shut down, utility consumption would be disconnected or reduced where possible, and measures would be taken to protect the building and equipment throughout the closure.

The ministry would additionally issue public notices announcing that Me’aras Hamachpeilah is closed in order to prevent visitors and mispallelim from traveling to the site unnecessarily.

The potential shutdown comes at a particularly sensitive time, with the Tishrei Yomim Tovim approaching and large numbers of mispallelim traditionally visiting Me’aras Hamachpeilah during the period.

Avidan concluded his directive by expressing regret over the extraordinary situation while emphasizing that the ministry cannot legally continue operating without authorized funds.

“We deeply regret reaching this unfortunate situation, but as stated, the law requires us to take these steps until a solution is found and the necessary budgetary source is arranged by the authorities responsible for doing so.”