Trump Replaces Bombs with Sanctions as War with Iran Shows No End

President Donald Trump has shifted his strategy for ending the war in Iran, pivoting back to economic sanctions after other methods failed. The move comes as US stockpiles of key weapons have dwindled and talks with Iran have stalled. According to White House officials, the administration is now betting that months of bombing will push Iran's economy to a breaking point, forcing its leadership to cave in to demands.

Trump has long derided past presidents who used sanctions to limit Iran's economic ability to pay for its military and nuclear development. However, he now argues that another financial squeeze can bring an end to the war. The administration is hoping to apply additional pressure through Operation Economic Fury, which includes sanctioning countries that buy oil from Iran or bank with it.

Economists warn that sanctions may not be as effective in the short term due to their inability to bite quickly. Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at Columbia University who helped direct Iran sanctions strategy in the Obama administration, noted that Trump has not articulated clear strategic goals for the war and has systematically weakened his own hand through inadequate use of force.