More than 23 weeks into the war on Iran, United States President Donald Trump has indicated a preference for intensifying economic pressure on Tehran rather than resuming a military offensive, which he had previously warned might occur.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway central to ongoing negotiations to end the conflict, remains disrupted by Iranian forces. Meanwhile, a US naval blockade has tightened its control over Iranian ports since April, contributing to Iran's financial difficulties. Trump described Iran as being in “very bad shape” financially, highlighting high inflation and challenges in paying its soldiers.

On Saturday, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) reported redirecting 53 commercial vessels, boarding two, and disabling two others as part of its operations.

Despite Iran and Oman stating they are close to an agreement on managing the Strait of Hormuz, Trump characterized the US stance as “only semi-negotiating” with Iran.

At the end of July, Axios reported that General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump about a shortage of air defense interceptors, which could limit the US's ability to protect its forces and allies in the Middle East. In response, the Pentagon has urged the US defense industry to rapidly increase production and delivery of weapons, including munitions that are in critically short supply due to the war, according to a Department of Defense memo cited by The Washington Post.

Observers note that Iran is attempting to exert economic pressure on regional neighbors such as Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, aiming to influence these countries to pressure the US into negotiations.

Initially, the US framed the conflict as an effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons—a claim Tehran denies—and to force a change in Iran’s government, a goal that Trump has since quietly abandoned.

Sources