Trump Turns Up Economic Pressure on Iran, Betting Sanctions Will End War

The Trump administration is shifting its strategy on Iran, pivoting back to economic sanctions as other approaches fail to end the conflict. The move comes after months of bombing have pushed Iran's economy to a breaking point, according to President Donald Trump.

'Yeah, they can make trouble, but they're broke,' Trump said on Monday. 'They have no money. You know, Iran is broke, totally broke.'

The US has been engaged in what it calls 'Operation Economic Fury' against Iran since April 16, with the goal of crippling its economy and forcing its leadership to cave to demands.

Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at Columbia University who helped direct Iran sanctions strategy in the Obama administration, questioned the effectiveness of this approach. He noted that sanctions are unable to bite as quickly as the impact of the largely shuttered Strait of Hormuz, which has limited global supplies of oil and other energy resources.