What’s next in Iran war? Trump ends talks, tightens squeeze as Tehran vows to break US naval blockade

Nearly six months into the Iran war, US President Donald Trump seems to have shifted his strategy, aiming to maintain economic and naval pressure on Tehran while waiting for the regime to cave in, according to reports. Iran, however, is signaling a readiness to fight back if the economic squeeze continues. Trump has instructed his top envoys to halt diplomatic talks with Iran, signaling a move away from negotiations towards a strategy of "strangling" the regime through economic pressure, CNN reported.

Iran, for its part, has threatened to break the naval blockade if diplomacy fails and has warned that it could adopt a "fully offensive" posture. The Pentagon is also considering reducing the US military presence in the Gulf, potentially moving some forces to less vulnerable locations such as Jordan, Israel, or Saudi Arabia, as a measure to withstand potential Iranian retaliation.

Both sides appear to be betting on the other to back down, with Trump hoping sustained pressure will eventually force Tehran to the negotiating table, and Iran calculating that time and increased military pressure will eventually wear down the US.