Bessent’s bet that the mullahs can’t bear the pain of war much longer just might pay off

President Trump’s “economic D-Day” against Iran has been greeted with understandable skepticism. Trump has spent a decade spectacularly undermining his own credibility — and America’s — and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s opening sanctions package against roughly 60 Iran-linked individuals, companies and vessels hardly resembled Normandy. Yet behind the theatrics lies a potentially powerful strategy in pursuit of a just cause, if the West shows some staying power. Iran’s vile regime actually can be choked economically. But it will take months of pain. The contest comes down to something simpler than sanctions architecture: Who can tolerate the pain longest? Paul Krugman, Scott Bessent, President Trump and Xi Jingping above the Strait of Hormuz. NY Post Design Iran is betting that Wester