ALBAWABA - President Donald Trump has said his government is planning to put more economic pressure on Iran but also said military action is not being considered at this time amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Trump told Axios in an interview that Washington is being “very measured” about Tehran, noting that the United States is only involved in limited conversations and watching closely as Iran's economy struggles.
Trump said Iran is in serious financial trouble, inflation is growing and the government doesn’t have the money to support its military efforts. He also noted that continuing U.S. economic sanctions and maritime pressure had severely squeezed Tehran’s budget.
The comments come as Iran has yet to reach a deal with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after allegedly setting more requirements before it would allow marine trade to completely restart thru the crucial waterway.
Trump’s tone was cool despite the delay, stating he was not worried about the pace of discussions and expressing confidence the matter would be addressed in the end.
The worldwide price of oil, trading near $75 a barrel, has also helped absorb the economic effects of regional turmoil on American consumers, the president said.
Trump compared the standoff with Tehran to a game of chess, saying patience, not military escalation, would be Washington’s favored tactic as diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran continued.
