United States President Donald Trump is ready to focus on economic pressure against Iran following months of military attacks, sanctions, and a naval blockade. The shift moves away the prospect of new military strikes against Tehran.
Speaking in a brief telephone call with news website Axios, reported by ertnews.gr, Trump said Washington is keeping a low profile. He stated that the US is negotiating only partially with Iran while monitoring its massive inflation and lack of money.
Trump said Iran is in a very bad economic situation and lacks money to pay its soldiers. He added that the US naval blockade has worsened the Iranian regime's economic crisis.
One week ago, Trump issued the latest in a series of threats to hit Iran hard before backing down as he pushes for a deal to end the war launched alongside Israel on February 28. American officials said Trump initially favored resuming major military operations before being persuaded to de-escalate tension for now.
One official said the conflict allowed the Iranian regime to avoid dealing with infrastructure damage and economic crisis. The official added that when not at war, Iran is forced to face a grim reality without real solutions.
Strait of Hormuz oil exports
Axios reported that Trump expressed no frustration over delays in reaching an agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz. According to a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries in June, Iran demanded that the US first end the blockade of Iranian ports and lift oil sanctions.
According to the US official, about 8 million barrels of oil are exported from the Gulf every night via the southern route in the Strait of Hormuz, in coordination with the US military. The US will attempt to export more oil if an agreement is not reached.
Trump stated that with oil prices dropping to just over $75 a barrel, American consumers feel less pain from the war. Describing relations with Iran as being like a chess game, Trump said the situation will go well and always goes well.
In an analysis by Kostas Raptis, Trump's preferred tactic of de-escalation through escalation appears to be gaining ground in the Ukrainian crisis, although Vladimir Putin is the one using it.
