The Trump administration appears to be moving away from threats of military strikes against Iran and toward a longer-term campaign of economic pressure, according to recent reporting. President Trump has said that the "status quo" is what Gulf Arab allies want as the war with Iran has reached a stalemate, and he has expressed little urgency in securing a nuclear agreement.

The pivot comes as the midterm elections approach, with the White House reportedly shifting from threats of further attacks to a strategy centered on economic pressure on Tehran. Rather than pressing for a quick deal, the administration is signaling that it is prepared to wait, keeping the current situation largely in place while the squeeze on Iran's economy continues.S1S2