Opinion

AMB GORDON SONDLAND: Our allies enjoyed a free ride trading with Iran. Trump is shutting that down

UAE suspended trade and financial transactions with Iran, but Europe and China pose harder tests

By Gordon Sondland Fox News

Published August 22, 2026 6:00am EDT

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Trump launches crushing 'Economic D-Day' operation targeting Iran

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Brent Sadler discuss President Donald Trump's 'Economic D-Day' operation targeting Iran. The strategy aims to cut off financial lifelines keeping Tehran's proxy network alive in the Middle East.

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President Donald Trump is finally proposing the Iran policy that our allies have spent decades avoiding: If you want the benefits of doing business with the United States, you cannot also help finance the regime in Tehran.

It really is that simple.

Trump’s "Economic D-Day" is not merely another sanctions package filled with the names of Iranian officials who do not have American bank accounts and never planned to visit Disneyland. The important idea is to punish the foreign countries, banks, refiners, shipping companies and middlemen that keep Iran in business.

TRUMP THREATENS 'UNPRECEDENTED' ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY NATION AIDING IRAN

They must choose between Iran and America. They should no longer be allowed to choose both.

President Donald Trump is moving ahead with what he calls Economic D-Day on Iran as he tries to force the war to a conclusion. (The White House via X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images/Contributor/Getty Images)

When I served as U.S. ambassador to the European Union, I watched European governments twist themselves into diplomatic, legal and moral contortions to avoid seriously sanctioning Iran. There was always a deal that took precedence over principle.

AMB. GORDON SONDLAND: EUROPE CAN’T CONDEMN IRAN, THEN COMPLAIN WHEN TRUMP FINALLY ACTS TO STOP IT

One country had an energy contract to protect. Another had companies pursuing Iranian business. Someone else wanted to preserve a diplomatic channel. Brussels was perpetually waiting for another negotiation that would supposedly moderate the regime if only we remained patient, constructive and commercially engaged.

Europe claimed that commerce created leverage. Iran got the commerce and Europe rarely exercised the leverage.

IRAN IS NOT A NORMAL NATION YOU CAN MAKE DEALS WITH; IT’S A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT

Tehran took the money, funded its proxies, expanded its missile program, brutalized its own population and continued advancing its nuclear capabilities. Then, whenever Iran created another crisis, the Europeans looked to Washington to........

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