Trump’s Secret Iran Strategy: Prolonged Blockade, Not a Quick Deal

Trump Privately Shifts Iran Strategy: No Quick Deal in Sight

Publicly, Donald Trump has vowed a swift and decisive end to the conflict with Iran, but behind closed doors, his administration is preparing for a prolonged confrontation. According to U.S. officials who spoke with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, the president has directed his team to plan for an “extended” blockade of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations with Tehran stall.

This stance was reinforced during a Monday meeting in the Situation Room, where officials said Trump evaluated alternative options—including renewed military strikes or abandoning the conflict entirely—before concluding that economic pressure was the most viable course of action.

Trump’s Public Rhetoric vs. Private Calculations

Trump’s recent social media posts reflect his administration’s intent to maintain pressure on Iran until its leadership capitulates to his primary demand: ending its nuclear capabilities. On Wednesday morning, he posted on Truth Social:

“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!”

Accompanying the post was an AI-generated image of Trump in a tuxedo and sunglasses, holding a semiautomatic weapon, with a presumed Iranian landscape exploding in the background.

In another post, Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, asserting that he was “doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago.”

Military Strikes and Escalating Tensions

Before the war—launched without congressional approval—Trump ordered airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites on June 22. The strikes targeted Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, with the Trump administration claiming the attack set Iran’s nuclear program back by “years.”

However, the effectiveness of these strikes remains unclear, as Iran’s nuclear progress continues to be shrouded in uncertainty.

Resignation Over Iran War Raises Concerns

Last month, Joe Kent, then director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest. In his resignation letter, Kent wrote that he could not “in good conscience” support the war in Iran, arguing that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation” and that the conflict was driven by pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

Humanitarian and Economic Fallout

In the eight weeks since the war began, the U.S. and Israel have killed thousands of Iranian civilians and destroyed critical civilian infrastructure. The conflict has also resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers.

Meanwhile, the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global energy crisis, disrupting a vital trade route for Middle Eastern oil. In the U.S., delayed oil and gas deliveries have driven up transportation costs, affecting nearly every commodity. As of publication, the average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. was $4.22, according to an AAA analysis. In parts of California—including San Francisco, Napa, and San Jose—gas prices exceeded $6 per gallon.