US President Donald Trump appears to have backed away from warnings of immediate military action against Iran. Despite ongoing tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz, Washington intends to use economic pressure as its main tool to force Tehran to accept a peace deal.
In a phone conversation with the Axios news portal, Trump stated that the US is acting with restraint while closely monitoring the deteriorating financial situation in Iran.
"We're keeping it low key. We're only partially negotiating with them. We're just watching Iran with their high inflation and the fact that they don't have any money. It'll be fixed. It always gets fixed. It's like a game of chess," Trump said.
According to the White House chief, the US naval blockade has worsened the financial crisis for the Iranian government, making it impossible to pay its military troops. He added that with falling oil prices, American citizens are feeling less of the burden of this unpopular conflict.
The latest statements come after a post on his Truth Social network, where Trump claimed that the US was "armed and ready for war" with a military power not seen since World War II. However, he clarified that he had decided to postpone the attacks at the request of Iran and countries in the region, as the parameters of a deal were being agreed upon.
The main conditions imposed by Washington include:
The immediate and complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz;
The complete end of the Iranian nuclear threat.
On the other hand, military sources in Iran have denied Trump's claims that Tehran has asked the US to refrain from new attacks. Iran's elite military branch (the Revolutionary Guards) stated that the Strait of Hormuz sea route will not be reopened until the US accepts all their demands.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the most critical point in this conflict, as before the military clashes, about 20 percent of the global supply of oil and natural gas passed through it. The closure of this passage is being used by Tehran as a key bargaining chip in the face of American pressure.
