Meaning: not literal war — it's shorthand for using economic/financial tools coercively against Iran instead of (or alongside threat of) military action.
**Definition of 'economic warfare' in this context:** deliberate use of sanctions, financial restrictions, and trade/economic pressure to cripple a state's economy as a substitute for or complement to military conflict — the goal is to force policy change (e.g., halt nuclear program, end regional proxy activity) by inflicting economic pain rather than kinetic damage.
**Specific actions typically cited as this "economic warfare":** - Withdrawing from the JCPOA (2018) and reimposing sanctions lifted under that deal. - "Maximum pressure" campaign: sweeping sanctions on Iran's oil exports, central bank, and banking sector, aimed at cutting Iran off from global financial/SWIFT-linked systems. - Sanctioning third-country entities/individuals doing business with Iran (secondary sanctions), pressuring allies to stop buying Iranian oil. - Designating the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization, adding sanctions leverage. - Targeting Iranian leadership and officials directly with asset freezes/travel bans.
This is a characterization/framing (often used by critics or headlines) of aggressive sanctions policy as tantamount to "warfare" — I can't verify which exact outlet/headline used this specific phrase, since no source document was supplied for that.
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