Axios reported on the 9th that President Trump, in an interview with the outlet, leans toward applying economic pressure on Iran rather than launching new military operations.
In the US-Iran standoff, Trump’s hand is not as strong as it appears.
During a brief phone interview, Trump remarked, “We’re keeping it low-key.” He added, “We’re just having semi-formal talks with them. We’re just watching Iran — they’ve got serious inflation and no money.” He underscored that the US naval blockade is making Iran’s economic woes even worse.
Trump also noted that with oil prices dipping to just above $75 a barrel, American consumers are feeling less pain from the conflict. Reflecting on the back-and-forth with Tehran, he said, “Things will work out. They always do. It’s like a game of chess.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said on the 9th that no talks are currently taking place between Iran and the US. Until Washington stops violating the memorandum of understanding and remedies its breaches, Tehran sees no possibility of restarting negotiations.
Vice President Vance said on the 8th that the US-Iran conflict is far from over, “but we’re clearly past the opening phase — we’re in the middle game.” He stated that the US is leveraging a mix of diplomatic, economic, and military tools to ensure the best possible outcome.
