Trump's Iran War Hits Six Months, Shifts to Economic Pressure

President Donald Trump faces an awkward milestone on Friday as the U.S.-Israel war against Iran reaches its six-month mark. The conflict, which Trump once promised would be a "little excursion" lasting weeks, has stretched on far longer, costing the United States over $37.5 billion and testing the president's popularity ahead of November elections.

This week, the administration signaled a shift in strategy, focusing on economic pressure rather than military strikes to finish off Iran. The new campaign, dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast," threatens to punish any country or entity that continues doing business with Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration wanted to give nations a chance to cut trade before imposing secondary sanctions, though none have been announced yet.

The move comes as concerns grow over diminished munitions stockpiles after months of war, raising questions about U.S. military readiness elsewhere. Trump, however, remains defiant, insisting that Iran's leadership is on the ropes. "They're not paying their troops. They're in deep trouble. They have very little capacity," he told reporters Thursday. "We don't want to speak to them. We're not looking to meet or anything."

Trump has bristled at comparisons to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, noting that no American troops have been deployed into Iran. Yet the war's longevity echoes the "Mission Accomplished" moment of George W. Bush, which became a symbol of premature victory. Trump shared an AI-generated image this week declaring "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 2026," featuring himself alongside jets and a warship, with smaller images of Bush and the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The conflict has devastated Iran's navy and air force, with Iranian officials reporting $270 billion in damages. Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike in the opening weeks. But Iran has found leverage in the Strait of Hormuz, where vessel traffic has plummeted from about 130 ships daily before the war to just 24 on Wednesday. Trump declared the strait "open," but the numbers tell a different story.

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan continue pushing for a diplomatic off-ramp. Qatar's prime minister was in Tehran Thursday to discuss a plan with Oman to boost strait traffic. But Trump has shown little interest in reviving the preliminary deal reached in June, which fell apart after Iran attacked ships.

Analysts are split on the effectiveness of the new pressure campaign. Aarathi Krishnan of RAKSHA Intelligence Future argues the administration has "completely underestimated the Iranian resolve," noting Iran's decades of adapting to sanctions. Richard Goldberg, a former National Security Council adviser, believes Iran is in "uncharted waters" if the U.S. follows through with a comprehensive embargo.

China, Iran's biggest trade partner, has already voiced opposition to "illegal unilateral sanctions." When pressed on why he wasn't sanctioning Chinese banks, Trump offered a cryptic response: "Who said I'm not? You don't know if I'm doing it. I don't have to announce everything, do I?"