United States Implements New Sanctions Against Iran Amid Military Escalation

The United States announced a new sanctions campaign called Operation Economic Outcast on August 24. The measures target nearly 60 individuals, entities, and ships, as well as five economic sectors including shipping and digital assets. The sanctions have led to the suspension of the TOEFL English language test and Duolingo in Iran, as well as the previous cessation of IELTS exams. Iranian Science Minister Hussein Simai Saraf described the restriction of language tests as Stone Age behavior and stated that the goal of the United States is to force the country to surrender. Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati dismissed claims of an impending economic collapse as psychological warfare.

Simultaneously, military tensions have escalated. Iran launched ballistic missiles at Jordan, claiming they were retaliation for previous United States attacks and targeting American military bases. Jordan reported that the missiles were destroyed, though some landed in remote areas with no injuries. President Donald Trump subsequently ordered strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz.

Perspectives on the effectiveness of the sanctions vary by political lean. Center leaning sources suggest the sanctions are unlikely to topple the regime because the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can profit from smuggling and because the United States may avoid secondary sanctions to prevent a global financial crisis involving China. Center left leaning sources frame the sanctions as a tool that isolates the Iranian population rather than the regime, specifically citing the loss of scientific and sporting exchanges.