Trump says US taking "low-key" approach towards Iran, not seeking fresh military offensive
Washington, DC, August 10
Amid continued tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that the United States is adopting a "low-key" approach towards Iran and is not currently looking to launch a fresh military offensive, Axios reported.
"We are low keying it," Axios quoted Trump as saying. Trump added that the US was only "semi-negotiating" with Iran and was closely monitoring its worsening economic situation.
He further added, "We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money."
Trump said Iran was "in very bad shape" economically and claimed that the Persian Gulf country does not have enough money to pay its troops. He also said that the US naval blockade has further intensified the Iranian regime's economic challenges.
However, Trump said that falling oil prices, which are slightly above USD 75 per barrel, have reduced the impact of the conflict on American consumers.
"It will work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game," Trump said, describing the ongoing situation with Iran, Axios reported.
Tensions between the US and Iran have remained high amid developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.
His comments come amid stalled negotiations between Iran, Oman and the US aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has put forward new conditions, including lifting the US naval blockade and pulling back American forces stationed near Iran.
Earlier, the US Defence Department asked American defence contractors to urgently increase weapons production and speed up deliveries amid concerns over a shortage of critical munitions linked to the war with Iran, The Washington Post reported while citing a memo.
Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg told industry leaders on Wednesday they have up to 21 days to submit plans for "significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities".
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is currently not holding direct negotiations with Washington and is only exchanging messages through intermediaries, Al Jazeera reported.
"There are efforts underway to create grounds for negotiations," Araghchi said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Iran is in trouble economically, but that doesn't mean they'll just roll over. The Strait of Hormuz is critical for our oil imports too. India needs to be pragmatic here and keep channels open with both Tehran and Washington. We can't afford to be caught in the middle again. 😕
Trump likes to present everything as a "chess game" — brilliant analogy for someone who thinks in terms of power moves. But this semi-negotiation strategy will fail because Iran has survived sanctions for decades. They're not going to collapse just because the US watches from afar. The Indian government should prepare for higher oil prices regardless of what Trump says.
As someone who follows US politics from India, this seems like Trump trying to buy time before the election. He doesn't want another war on his record, so he's downplaying everything. But the naval blockade is already affecting global shipping and our exporters. India needs to voice our concerns at the UN about this destabilising approach.
"It will work out" — that's not a foreign policy strategy, that's a prayer! India is one of the largest importers of Gulf oil, and if the Strait gets blocked, our economy takes a massive hit. The government should be diversifying our energy sources and pushing for diplomatic solutions, not just waiting for Trump's chess game to end. The diaspora is worried about family in the Gulf too.
The irony is thick — Trump says he's "low-key" but has a naval blockade and is asking contractors to speed up weapons production. That's not low-key, that's squeezing. India should learn from this: we need to strengthen our own
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