US War Secretary: Military Strikes Against Iran Still on Table Amid Economic Offensive
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The United States is keeping its military options wide open against Iran, with War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirming that 'kinetic strikes' are absolutely still on the table, especially around the critical Strait of Hormuz. This stark warning comes just as the US Treasury launched 'Operation Economic Outcast,' an intense new effort to financially isolate Tehran and choke off its revenue streams. This latest move by Washington is a major escalation in the ongoing 2026 Iran War, which saw US and Israeli forces launch significant strikes earlier this year, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. A temporary Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June aimed to cool tensions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but it quickly fell apart in July after Iran attacked commercial ships, seeking to assert control over the vital waterway. Now, the US maintains an 'ironclad' blockade, preventing Iran oil exports, while Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh insists Tehran has a 'two-year plan' to defy the new sanctions. 'Operation Economic Outcast' is designed to sever every financial lifeline to Iran, targeting digital assets, gold, aviation, technology, and shipping, and threatening 'secondary sanctions' against any country that continues trade. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called it an 'economic D-Day,' warning that any entity involved in money laundering for Iran will be cut off from the 'US dollar system.' As Iran economy struggles and the threat of military action looms, the world watches to see if this intensified pressure will force a change in Tehran or push the region closer to further conflict.