President Donald Trump stated that Iran could either collapse economically under pressure or face strong military action. He indicated that the U.S. would maintain sanctions and maritime blockades while keeping the option for further attacks open.
On August 11, local time, Trump discussed his strategy regarding Iran in an interview with the conservative outlet 'Real America Voice.' He said, "We can continue as we are and watch how bad things get for them."
He added, "If we just leave them alone, they will fail," referencing Iran's economic struggles, including high inflation and a plummeting currency.
Trump also mentioned frozen Iranian assets, stating, "We control their money. I am their banker," emphasizing the ongoing pressure on Iran's financial resources.
However, Trump's claim of a 300% inflation rate in Iran significantly diverges from official statistics, which recently reported an annual inflation rate of 88.6%.
He did not rule out the possibility of military action, suggesting another option could be to "hit Iran very, very hard." Addressing concerns about U.S. ammunition shortages, he reassured, "We are fine; we are ramping up production quickly."
Trump also left the door open for negotiations, stating, "We are having some sort of negotiations," while criticizing Iran as "very cunning negotiators."
Mediation countries have assessed that U.S.-Iran negotiations are making progress. Pakistan reported that both sides are "close to some sort of agreement," while Qatar noted that discussions regarding the Strait of Hormuz have reached an advanced stage.
However, significant differences remain before a final agreement can be reached. Iran demands the lifting of U.S. maritime blockades, the return of frozen assets, and compensation for war damages as conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump countered that Iran should compensate the U.S., leaving the outcome of negotiations uncertain.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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