Trump Weighs Military Strikes as Iran Eyes War of Attrition

President Donald Trump is weighing two primary strategies to resolve the conflict with Iran that began in late February: striking the country militarily or allowing it to collapse economically by maintaining control over frozen assets. In a phone interview, Trump characterized Iranian officials as devious negotiators and attributed current U.S. munitions shortages to aid provided to Ukraine under the previous administration.

While Trump described the situation as going absolutely fine, the International Energy Agency warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is depleting inventory buffers and raising fuel prices. Despite these tensions, Pakistan and Qatar reported that the U.S. and Iran are nearing a deal specifically regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

Conversely, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, suggested that Iran may prolong the war until the end of Trump's term in 2029. Naqdi argued that a strategy of attrition would establish deterrence and provide the Iranian military with experience fighting the U.S., claiming the American military is weaker than previously perceived. The conflict has already seen Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on U.S. assets in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, and Oman, following a period of U.S. military strikes in July.