Trump scared of full war with Iran, hides behind blockade as Tehran warns of dire consequences?

Experts are now dissecting President Donald Trump’s latest maritime blockade threat after the collapse of U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad, with The Washington Post reporting that the White House is shifting from military strikes to intensified economic coercion. In an analysis by David Ignatius, the strategy is framed as a pressure tactic aimed at forcing Tehran toward a broader deal, with Trump reportedly betting that economic pain can achieve what bombs could not while still trying to avoid another prolonged Middle East war.