Iranian official: Regime realized it must harden stance toward US

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the regime has concluded it must harden its stance toward the US and build leverage before negotiations with Trump. A Gulf source said Iranians believe the more pressure they apply, the more Trump will yield. Meanwhile, it was reported that the US faces a missile shortage after using "almost all" of its ATACMS and PrSM missiles.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country's leadership has concluded it must harden its stance toward the United States and build leverage before opening meaningful negotiations with President Donald Trump. This perception has led to belligerent rhetoric in recent days, strengthening ties with proxies, and threatening to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The official clarified that previous attempts at flexibility only led to increased pressure, so Tehran assesses that Trump will only respond to pressure. A Gulf source said that as long as Washington does not give Iran a more significant role in the Strait of Hormuz, the confrontation could spread, including blocking Bab el-Mandeb and striking energy infrastructure. He added that IRGC commanders believe they can achieve more, and that Iranians will not back down. Instead of a frontal confrontation, Iran prefers to increase economic pressure through the Strait of Hormuz, betting it can outlast the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the US military has expended a significant portion of its long-range missile stockpile, including "almost all" of its ATACMS and PrSM missiles, raising concerns about future readiness. The White House responded that the US has "much more ammunition" than any other actor.