WHEN DONALD TRUMP began Operation Epic Fury nearly six months ago he hoped that America’s military might would crush(粉碎，摧毁) Iran’s regime. When its bombs failed, he bet on(押注于，寄希望于) sweeteners(甜头，利诱). In June America offered Iran sanctions relief and billions of dollars in investment in the hope the country’s leaders would open the Strait of Hormuz and renounce(宣布放弃，摒弃) any nuclear ambitions. That approach failed, too. So Mr Trump has vowed to break the regime by smashing Iran economically. He said the effort would be an “economic D-Day(诺曼底登陆日，比喻关键行动)”. But when Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary, revealed the details on August 24th, his threats rang hollow(听起来空洞，显得虚假).
近六个月前，唐纳德·特朗普发动“史诗怒火”行动时，曾希望美国的军事力量能摧毁伊朗政权。当炸弹未能奏效时，他又寄望于利诱。六月，美国向伊朗提供制裁减免和数十亿美元的投资，希望该国领导人能开放霍尔木兹海峡并放弃任何核野心。这一招也失败了。于是特朗普先生誓言要通过经济打击来瓦解伊朗政权。他称这一努力将是“经济版的诺曼底登陆”。但当财政部长斯科特·贝森特于8月24日公布细节时，他的威胁显得空洞无力。
Iran has been under American sanctions since the Islamic revolution in 1979. In his first term Mr Trump exerted(施加（压力、影响等）) what he called “maximum pressure(极限施压)” on the regime in an effort to force concessions on its nuclear programme. The new campaign, dubbed(被称为，被冠以) Operation Economic Outcast, is presumably maximum plus. As well as enforcing its blockade of Iranian oil exports, America will increase pressure on Iran’s trading partners and on institutions that help the regime move money. But the threats were more bark than bite(雷声大雨点小，虚张声势). Countries will not have to comply with America’s demands immediately. The treasury secretary conceded(承认（不情愿地）) it was “a warning shot”.
自1979年伊斯兰革命以来，伊朗一直受到美国的制裁。在第一个任期内，特朗普先生对伊朗政权施加了他所谓的“极限施压”，以迫使其在核计划上做出让步。这项名为“经济弃儿行动”的新运动，大概是极限施压的加强版。除了执行对伊朗石油出口的封锁外，美国还将加大对伊朗贸易伙伴以及帮助该政权转移资金的机构的压力。但这些威胁雷声大雨点小。各国不必立即遵守美国的要求。财政部长承认这只是一个“警告性射击”。
Iran is in dire economic straits(严重的经济困境). The rial(里亚尔（伊朗货币）) has lost around a third of its value against the dollar since January. It hit an all-time low(历史最低点) ahead of Mr Bessent’s announcement, though it later rebounded(反弹，回升) a little. The war has destroyed great chunks(大块，大量) of Iranian industry. Damage to refineries(炼油厂) has left fuel in short supply, leading to long queues at petrol stations. Inflation is running at 88% year on year(同比，与去年同期相比). The regime is printing money to pay for food vouchers.
伊朗经济陷入严重困境。自1月以来，里亚尔对美元贬值约三分之一。在贝森特先生宣布之前，里亚尔跌至历史最低点，尽管后来略有回升。战争摧毁了伊朗工业的很大一部分。炼油厂的损坏导致燃料供应短缺，加油站排起长队。通货膨胀年率高达88%。该政权正在印钞以支付食品券。
