Trump shifts to economic pressure on Iran as Rubio says combat ops unnecessary
Trump moves from war threats to a sanctions-focused strategy on Iran; Rubio tells G7 combat isn’t needed after June 17 deal, reshaping US policy.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C., United States — President Donald Trump has abandoned the prospect of renewed military action against Iran, opting instead for a strategy that relies on economic pressure to weaken Tehran’s regime, according to three officials who attended a recent G7 meeting.
The Iran confrontation has morphed into a political liability for Republican leaders ahead of the midterm elections, with the president oscillating between threats of total war and expectations that Iran will concede to Washington’s demands.
Senator Marco Rubio, who met G7 foreign ministers in Paris on Tuesday, said the United States no longer requires large-scale combat operations against Iran, emphasizing the ongoing economic campaign as the primary tool.
Rubio told his counterparts that Trump had weighed two options – re-engaging in open conflict or negotiating a settlement – before selecting a “third way” that focuses on strangling the Iranian economy.
The approach was put to the test when a memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17, marking a tentative step toward ending hostilities and illustrating Trump’s hybrid diplomatic model.
Analysts note that the president’s middle-ground tactic sits between the full-scale war pursued by George Bush and the diplomatic retreat favored by Barack Obama, leaving its ultimate effectiveness uncertain.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
