AMB GORDON SONDLAND: Our allies enjoyed a free ride trading with Iran. Trump is shutting that down

President Donald Trump is finally proposing the Iran policy that our allies have spent decades avoiding: If you want the benefits of doing business with the United States, you cannot also help finance the regime in Tehran.

It really is that simple.

Trump’s "Economic D-Day" is not merely another sanctions package filled with the names of Iranian officials who do not have American bank accounts and never planned to visit Disneyland.

The important idea is to punish the foreign countries, banks, refiners, shipping companies and middlemen that keep Iran in business.

TRUMP THREATENS 'UNPRECEDENTED' ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY NATION AIDING IRAN They must choose between Iran and America.

They should no longer be allowed to choose both.

When I served as U.S. ambassador to the European Union, I watched European governments twist themselves into diplomatic, legal and moral contortions to avoid seriously sanctioning Iran.

There was always a deal that took precedence over principle.

AMB.

GORDON SONDLAND: EUROPE CAN’T CONDEMN IRAN, THEN COMPLAIN WHEN TRUMP FINALLY ACTS TO STOP IT One country had an energy contract to protect.

Another had companies pursuing Iranian business.

Someone else wanted to preserve a diplomatic channel.

Brussels was perpetually waiting for another negotiation that would supposedly moderate the regime if only we remained patient, constructive and commercially engaged.

Europe claimed that commerce created leverage.