Trump turns to a dual economic and military approach to squeeze Iran

Key Points:

• President Trump has adopted a dual strategy against Iran, combining intensified economic sanctions ("Operation Economic Outcast") with intermittent military strikes, aiming to pressure Tehran amid ongoing conflict and rising global energy prices.
• Despite these efforts, Iran remains defiant, with no signs of backing down, complicating U.S. attempts to de-escalate the situation ahead of the November midterm elections, which Trump insists will not affect his approach.
• The sanctions campaign has had limited immediate impact, as key Iranian trading partners like China, India, and Russia have not been fully targeted, partly due to diplomatic considerations ahead of a planned U.S.-China summit.
• Control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains a critical U.S. objective to ensure global oil flow, though shipping traffic through the strait remains below pre-war levels due to security risks and Iranian vetting measures.
• Analysts characterize the current U.S.-Iran conflict as a protracted "battle of endurance," with internal divisions in Iran and domestic political pressures in the U.S. making compromise unlikely in the near term.