Economic D-Day Could Backfire | US News

Robert Pape, a leading political scientist, warns that President Trump’s “Economic D-Day” plan to cripple Iran through financial and trade isolation is dangerously flawed — history shows extreme economic pressure rarely forces major powers to surrender and often hardens their resolve. He fears it could trigger an “escalation trap,” where U.S. sanctions provoke Iranian retaliation, sparking a cycle of rising tensions. Drawing parallels to Germany in WWI and Japan before Pearl Harbor, Pape argues Iran’s land borders and control over the Strait of Hormuz make full sanctions impossible — and its influence over Gulf states like the UAE creates critical vulnerabilities. If Iran strikes energy infrastructure, global oil prices could spike, destabilizing economies worldwide. Pape’s research underscores the risk: this strategy may drag the U.S. into a prolonged, unwinnable “forever war.” Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0315db910b3e16a9