The US military campaign against Iran has not succeeded in compelling Tehran to surrender, prompting the Trump administration to renew its strategy of economic pressure. Amid shortages of necessary munitions and concerns over the popularity of the ongoing conflict, President Donald Trump and his officials are returning to a familiar approach: intensifying economic sanctions and enforcing a naval blockade to restrict Iranian oil exports.

This renewed focus on economic hardship, previously known as “maximum pressure” during Trump’s first term, marks a significant shift from recent threats of escalated military action after nearly six months of war with Tehran.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News on Monday, “Operation Economic Fury, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, is devastating the Iranian economy.” Waltz added that while Iran could withstand bombings, Iranians feared Bessent’s economic measures more than Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s military actions.

President Trump echoed this sentiment in an interview with Axios, stating he is "low-keying it" with Iran and observing the country’s severe inflation and financial struggles. Secretary Scott Bessent similarly remarked on Fox News weeks earlier that "the government is causing the people to suffer, and we’re going to keep pressing."

While this economic strategy did not achieve Trump’s desired outcome before 2020, he and his team believe it will be effective this time around.

Sources