Five ways Trump could target Iran’s economy from ‘teapot’ sanctions to land blockade

# Why This Matters The Trump administration's consideration of escalating economic pressure on Iran represents a fundamental shift toward economic siege warfare that could reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics and ripple through global markets. A land blockade would effectively isolate Iran's economy entirely, potentially triggering severe humanitarian consequences for 88 million people while destabilizing oil markets that already operate with razor-thin spare capacity—any sustained disruption could push global crude prices significantly higher and accelerate inflation in energy-dependent economies. The approach abandons the incremental pressure of traditional sanctions for a maximalist strategy that removes any diplomatic off-ramp, increasing the risk that Iran responds asymmetrically through regional proxies, cyberattacks, or nuclear escalation rather than negotiating. This policy gamble hinges on whether economic coercion alone can force Iranian capitulation without military confrontation, but historical precedent suggests prolonged blockades typically harden adversary resolve rather than compel policy reversals.