After months of military threats against Iran, Donald Trump now appears to favor economic pressure. But the new sanctions announced by Washington have not triggered the promised shock, and their effectiveness will depend primarily on the credibility of American threats toward Tehran’s partners, according to Axios.
The new sanctions against Iran announced by the U.S. administration provoked neither the fear nor the shock promised by President Donald Trump, Axios reported on Tuesday, August 25. The media outlet considers that the measures unveiled by Washington on Monday, August 24, essentially resemble a new ultimatum expanded specifically to Tehran.
Following months of threats of a massive assault on Iran, Donald Trump now seems to prioritize economic leverage. With Congressional midterm elections approaching, the American president has reportedly made economic strangulation his preferred strategy, Axios notes.
The American outlet assesses that this approach offers several benefits to Washington. The sanctions, combined with the naval blockade, will allow the United States to maintain intense pressure on Tehran without risking immediate new disruptions to the oil market. They will also help the U.S. administration avoid—at least for the immediate future—a deeper involvement in the conflict.
However, the success of this strategy hinges largely on its credibility, according to Axios. For the pressure to work, China, the United Arab Emirates, and other nations maintaining relations with Iran must be convinced that Donald Trump is genuinely prepared to impose the unprecedented sanctions he threatens them with.
Notably, American law grants the executive branch the tools to enact severe secondary sanctions against Tehran’s partners. Yet this instrument has so far been deployed only sparingly. This situation fuels doubts regarding Washington’s true resolve.
In a critical editorial on the president’s position, The Wall Street Journal notes that at this point, the rest of the world will need to see these measures actually enforced to believe them. The newspaper recalls Donald Trump’s six months of threats, regularly postponed deadlines, and repeated promises of a quick victory in the war against Iran.
Considerable Losses for U.S. Intelligence
Concurrently, the United States has reportedly suffered heavy damage in the Middle East. According to details reported by NBC News on Tuesday, August 25, Iranian strikes conducted via missiles and drones caused “unprecedented” damage to U.S. intelligence installations and surveillance hardware in the region.
The extent of the destruction reportedly surpasses all losses previously sustained by American intelligence agencies. Repairing and replacing the damaged equipment is expected to cost several billion dollars.
The war between the United States and Iran began in February. A ceasefire was reached in June, but it lasted only a few weeks. Fighting resumed after Tehran accused Washington of failing to respect the terms of the agreement.