Fred Fleitz, a former national security official in the Donald Trump administration, said Thursday that the Iranian government could collapse within weeks under the pressure of new U.S. sanctions, as President Trump intensifies what he calls an "economic D-Day" campaign against Tehran.

Fleitz, who served as chief of staff to the National Security Council during the Trump administration and currently serves as vice chair of the Center for American Security at the America First Policy Institute, made the remarks on the Newsmax program "Bianca, Beyond the National."

Fleitz stated that the Iranian economy was already a "mess" before the large-scale protests that broke out last December, and that the situation has worsened since then. He added that Trump's recent policies have left the Iranian government facing the most severe economic sanctions in its history.

“With this economic blockade, Trump is raising the stakes,” Fleitz said. “This is a situation the current government cannot handle. They are facing financial ruin of a magnitude that is hard to even imagine.”

Fleitz alleged that the December protests were met with a violent crackdown by the government and claimed that 40,000 Iranians were executed during the unrest.

He predicted that the sanctions would lead to dramatic changes in Iran within a month or two.

“I think within 30 to 60 days, we will see a completely different Iran,” Fleitz said. “The country is going to start collapsing.” He added that the government would struggle to pay its security forces and military personnel.

Fleitz also commented on the Iranian officials' reactions to the announcement of the sanctions, dismissing them as an attempt to project a strength the government does not actually possess.

Regarding Iran’s bluster about potential military operations against Gulf nations and Europe, Fleitz said, “It is important to stand up to this rhetoric from Iran. We all know how absurd those claims are. However, Iranian officials are very skilled at manipulating the mainstream media, not just in the U.S. but around the world.”

Fleitz said the Trump administration "wants to make it clear that it has a comprehensive and patient strategy of waiting for this situation to settle, while applying economic pressure on the U.S. to bring down the government," adding that if this approach is maintained, it will succeed.

He stated that President Trump needs to explain the strategy to the American people and added that further developments regarding the sanctions campaign are expected on Monday.

President Trump described the sanctions as the most extensive and organized economic isolation campaign in history, warning that any country that continues to do business with Iran will face sanctions.

U.S. NNP = Representative Reporter Hong Seong-gu / Special Dispatch to this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com