The Attrition War Between the US and Iran: "The Chance of an Agreement Was Always Slim"

The 60-day deadline for a US-Iran agreement has been effectively abandoned, and the confrontation has become an economic war of attrition. White House officials admitted that no agreement will be reached, and the Americans have returned to a policy of sanctions and a naval blockade. Analysts assess that economic pressure alone will not subdue Tehran, and the impasse is expected to push toward escalation.

The 60-day deadline for an agreement between the US and Iran, which was set to end today, has been effectively abandoned. The war has become a contest of willpower and economic endurance with no end in sight. Officials within the White House are aware that they will pass the deadline without reaching an agreement, and the confrontation has largely become an economic war, according to two American sources told The New York Times. The current strategy resembles previous attempts to isolate Iran, but some analysts doubt that even heavy economic pressure will force it to change course. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that he is about to impose financial sanctions unlike any seen before. The memorandum of understanding from June was seen as an achievement for Iran, but the vague wording regarding the Strait of Hormuz led to the collapse of the agreement. Iran began firing on ships outside territorial waters, and the Americans responded forcefully. Now Iran refuses to reopen the strait until the US releases frozen assets, while the Trump administration demands that Iran end the naval blockade. Former American officials said the chance of an agreement within 60 days was always slim. Trump threatened that "American ownership of the Strait of Hormuz will be declared," but it is unclear how serious the declaration is. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote: "The Strait of Hormuz was Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian."