The article highlights a shift in President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and strategy regarding the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, which has now reached its six-month mark. Initially, Trump assured Americans that the conflict would be a “little excursion” lasting only weeks. However, the war continues, and Trump now claims that through bombings and blockades, Iran’s leadership, military, and economy have been severely damaged. Despite this, the administration is pivoting towards increased economic pressure, threatening sanctions against any country or entity conducting business with Iran, as military stockpiles dwindle and concerns about the conflict’s impact on U.S. military readiness arise.

Trump’s language about swiftly concluding the war has also softened; he stated he is “not in a hurry” to bring Iran back to negotiations and maintains that Iran’s leadership is weakened. The president emphasizes that the U.S. and Israel’s campaign has been devastating for Iran, citing Iranian officials’ claims of $270 billion in damages. Nevertheless, Iran has exerted leverage through strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, significantly reducing vessel traffic. Mediators like Qatar and Pakistan are pushing for a diplomatic resolution, but Trump shows little interest in revisiting a previous deal aimed at reopening the strait and initiating nuclear program talks. The administration asserts that its economic blockade is effective, though analysts argue that Iran’s historical resilience to sanctions may undermine the strategy’s success.

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