Robert Pape, a University of Chicago scholar of air power, blockades and
sanctions, criticized U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent’s “economic D‑day”
campaign against Iran as a dangerous escalation trap unlikely to compel Tehran
and liable to draw the U.S. into deeper military conflict. Pape said such
measures have not won major wars or toppled governments and warned that
tightening sanctions on Iran and its trading partners could provoke retaliatory
moves that force Washington to escalate. "This will lead to another escalation
trap," he said.
