New Delhi: The United States has stepped up pressure on Iran with a major financial offensive, but Washington is still keeping military action on the table. The move comes as public support for the war falls and more Americans expect the conflict to drag on.
The US war secretary, Pete Hegseth, said that the Pentagon was “by no means” ruling out kinetic strikes against Iran, including in and around the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that the US would respond if Iran challenged American forces, while saying economic pressure was currently hurting Tehran the most.
Hegseth said the US could use military force if needed to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He also claimed that previous US attacks had severely weakened Iran’s naval forces, radar systems and missile capabilities.
The warning came as treasury secretary, Scott Bessent unveiled “Operation Economic Outcast”, which Washington says is aimed at cutting Iran’s financial connections around the world and targeting the revenue streams that support its government. Bessent described the move as an “economic D-Day” and said the US wanted to sever the economic lifelines sustaining Tehran.
Iran quickly challenged Washington’s assessment of the conflict. The country’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, questioned why the US would need such a sweeping financial offensive if Iran’s military capabilities and nuclear programme had already been destroyed, calling the claims a possible admission of failure rather than victory.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, separately warned countries against joining the US pressure campaign, saying participation would carry consequences. An Iran government spokeswoman, Fatemeh Mohajerani, acknowledged the economic difficulties but said Tehran would get through the latest pressure by maintaining unity.
Hegseth said the US military had already damaged Iran’s ability to monitor and control the waters around the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, Iran still has some military capabilities, but they are far weaker than before. The US official also said continued economic pressure could push Tehran towards negotiations on its nuclear programme. Washington has repeatedly said that forcing Iran to address its nuclear programme remains a central objective of its policy.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint because of its importance to global oil supplies. Hegseth said the US was capable of protecting shipping and keeping oil moving through the waterway, despite Iran’s restrictions on exports from the region.
Support for Iran war falls to 31 per cent
The tougher US approach comes as Americans show declining support for military action against Iran. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed Monday, only 31 per cent of Americans supported US military action against Iran. Support stood at 37 per cent in March and 34 per cent earlier this month.
Support among Republicans also fell, with 69 per cent backing the war compared with 77 per cent in March. The poll surveyed 1,215 US adults and had a margin of error of three percentage points. Trump’s approval rating remained at 33 per cent, according to Reuters/Ipsos, matching the lowest level recorded in the polling firm’s surveys during either of his presidential terms.
The poll also showed that most Americans expect the war to continue for a long time. Reports found that 83 per cent believed the conflict would last for an extended period, up from 80 per cent earlier this month.
The conflict is also affecting the US economy. Gasoline prices have risen by more than a dollar per gallon compared with before the war, adding pressure on an administration that campaigned on controlling inflation and avoiding lengthy military conflicts.
The economic strain could become more important ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, when Trump’s Republican allies will try to defend narrow majorities in Congress. According to reports independent voters currently preferred Democratic candidates over Republicans by 33 per cent to 19 per cent in a hypothetical congressional election.
The latest developments show Washington pursuing economic pressure while keeping military force available as a backup. The strategy is aimed at weakening Iran’s economy and pushing Tehran towards negotiations without closing the door to further strikes.