Iran is ‘bleeding badly’: Trump bets economic pain will force Tehran to surrender

U.S. President Donald Trump is not ruling out a military option against Iran, though he currently appears to favor intensifying economic pressure as a means to compel Tehran to compromise. Trump claims to have "lowered the profile" of the confrontation, conducting only limited negotiations with Tehran while emphasizing the damage inflicted by two wars and a U.S. naval blockade that severely restricted Iran's oil exports.

During an interview with Real America’s Voice, Trump outlined two strategies: "hitting them really, really hard" and defeating Iran economically by maintaining the blockade and sanctions. He described the latter as allowing pressure to continue while watching conditions inside Iran deteriorate, stating that the country is in a state of chaos due to 300% inflation, a nearly worthless currency, and soldiers leaving due to lack of payment.

Iran's assets frozen abroad are controlled by the U.S., and Trump boasts of being Iran's banker. The central question remains whether Iran's leadership, which now believes it has strategic leverage through blocking the Strait of Hormuz, will soften its position under economic pressure. If not, and Trump decides to resume major military operations, analysts believe this could be more likely after the November 3 U.S. midterm elections.

Iran's economy is now seen as the "main battlefield," with Iranian officials openly acknowledging the severity of the crisis, despite few visible signs of renewed mass protests. Memories of brutal crackdowns on demonstrations remain fresh, and President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that the economic crisis could trigger "social instability."