We are low-keying it: Trump pivots to economic pressure on Iran, not new strikes

According to him, Iran "is in very bad shape" economically and lacks the money to pay its troops. The US naval blockade has further intensified the pressure on Tehran's economy, he said.

The President has repeatedly said that he was persuaded to hold off on another large-scale military campaign by his Gulf allies and instead allow economic and diplomatic pressure to build. The change in tone was also evident in Trump's response to Tehran's delay in.

What Happened

Iran announced additional conditions on Saturday for allowing shipping through the strategic waterway, but the latest US response has been notably restrained. Rather than issuing fresh military threats, Trump has appeared willing to let the economic pressure play out.

• With crude trading at slightly more than $75 a barrel, the immediate economic fallout of the conflict has been less painful for US consumers than it could have been.

• "Nobody's going to be able to get it except us."

• He has also said that US intelligence agencies would detect any attempt to secretly rebuild the programme.

Key Details

His calculation is also shaped by the fact that oil prices have remained relatively manageable for American consumers. That gives Washington greater room to maintain pressure on Tehran without rushing into another major military escalation.

• Trump believes Iran could struggle to rebuild its nuclear capabilities during his presidency following the destruction of major nuclear facilities.

• The nuclear issue has been central to Washington’s demands for months, but negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme have proved difficult.

• That would represent a significant shift in the US approach.

Why It Matters

An agreement involving Iran, Oman and the United States has reportedly been negotiated to govern traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the arrangement has yet to be formally announced.

• The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump has indicated to senior aides that he could potentially walk away without securing a new nuclear agreement with Tehran if Iran fully restores shipping through the.

• The latest series of developments have complicated the Trump administration's efforts to find a way out of the conflict without appearing to retreat.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge