President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, targeting the regime's finances in an effort to force concessions on its nuclear program, U.S. officials said.
In recent meetings, including a Monday session in the Situation Room, Trump chose to continue restricting shipping to and from Iranian ports rather than resume military strikes or disengage from the conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Officials said he viewed both alternatives as carrying greater risks than maintaining the blockade.
The strategy prolongs a standoff that has pushed up gas prices, weighed on Trump's poll numbers, and complicated Republican prospects ahead of the midterm elections.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level since the conflict began.
Since a ceasefire took effect April 7, ending a major U.S. bombing campaign, Trump has stepped back from further escalation while leaving open the possibility of diplomacy, the Journal reported.
At the same time, he has sought to increase economic pressure on Tehran, insisting that any agreement must dismantle Iran's nuclear program.
On Monday, Trump told aides that Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while delaying nuclear negotiations until a later phase showed a lack of good faith, according to The Wall Street Journal.
For now, Trump appears willing to sustain the blockade indefinitely. He said Tuesday on Truth Social that the strategy is pushing Iran toward a "State of Collapse." A senior U.S. official said the restrictions are straining Iran's ability to store unsold oil and have prompted renewed outreach from Tehran.
The approach marks a new phase in the conflict, underscoring the absence of a quick resolution.
Ending the confrontation outright could ease pressure on global markets, but officials said Iran's recent proposal would have allowed Tehran to dictate the terms. Renewed military action could further weaken Iran but risk retaliation against regional energy infrastructure.
"The United States has maximum leverage over the regime," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, adding that any deal must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Some officials expect the conflict, now in its eighth week, could end without either a formal nuclear agreement or a return to large-scale fighting.
Trump is receiving mixed advice from advisers. Some allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., support maintaining pressure on Iran. Others, including business leaders, have raised concerns about the economic impact of prolonged disruption in the region.
Officials said Trump is not prepared to ease his demands, which include requiring Iran to suspend nuclear enrichment for 20 years and accept long-term restrictions afterward.
Negotiations remain stalled. Iranian officials told mediators they need additional time to consult with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei before presenting a revised proposal, according to people familiar with the matter.
Regional mediators remain skeptical that a breakthrough is imminent, noting that both Washington and Tehran appear to believe time is on their side.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said internal divisions within Iran complicate diplomacy.
"Our negotiators aren't just negotiating with Iranians," Rubio said in a Fox News interview. "Those Iranians then have to negotiate with other Iranians in order to figure out what they can agree to."
Officials warned that Iran could still escalate tensions, including by targeting energy infrastructure or U.S. naval forces enforcing the blockade, even as it struggles under mounting economic pressure.
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