Why Trump Temporarily Refrained from Strikes on Iran – Media

US President Donald Trump has decided to temporarily refrain from resuming large-scale military strikes on Iran, opting instead to intensify economic pressure and a naval blockade. In his assessment, the Iranian regime is in a dire economic situation, making financial exhaustion a more effective tool. Negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz have reached an impasse due to internal disagreements in Tehran and its hardened stance.

US President Donald Trump has decided to temporarily hold off on resuming large-scale military strikes against Iran, choosing instead to ramp up economic pressure and a naval blockade. Despite the fact that just a week ago the administration was ready to order new attacks, Trump and his advisers have revised their strategy. In an interview with Axios, the White House chief confirmed that Washington is reducing military activity and is conducting only limited talks with Tehran. According to the American leader, the Iranian regime is currently in an extremely dire economic situation, facing huge inflation, a shortage of funds, and even delays in military pay, making financial exhaustion a more effective tool. American sources note that refraining from active combat operations deprives the Iranian authorities of the ability to distract the population with an external conflict. In the absence of direct strikes, the regime is forced to confront a deep internal crisis, exacerbated by the US naval blockade. Meanwhile, Washington continues to supply the global oil market: every night, about 8 million barrels are shipped through the southern Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the US Navy. Trump commented on the negotiations: "It will all work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game," adding that lower oil prices reduce risks to the American economy. The negotiation process over the Strait of Hormuz has reached an impasse due to internal disagreements in Tehran and a sharp hardening of its position. President Masoud Pezeshkian fears a complete financial collapse and advocates a compromise with the US, while the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is categorically against any concessions. The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, has put forward new demands: full compensation for military damage, lifting all sanctions, unfreezing frozen assets, cessation of hostilities throughout the region, and complete withdrawal of US troops. Vice President J.D. Vance noted: "This is not the end. We are clearly not at the beginning. We are in the middle of the game, and we are using a range of tools—diplomatic, economic, and military—to ensure the best outcome for the American people."