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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hy8d8durgl
Trump's Iran Strategy
(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - Wednesday's U.S. airstrikes on Iran following its missile attack on Jordan were confined to the Persian Gulf region, as Trump appears intent on avoiding a major escalation. According to assessments by officials in Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, Trump does not want a broad confrontation before the U.S. midterm elections in early November. The three months remaining would allow the U.S. to accelerate production of munitions, particularly interceptors, and make other preparations for a wider confrontation that is expected to resume later. Washington has concluded that diplomatic efforts with Iran's new regime will not succeed or produce results, either with regard to reopening the Strait of Hormuz or preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The conclusion is that another significant military confrontation will be required, with Israel participating. While the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command assess that airstrikes in their present form have exhausted their ability to pressure the Iranian regime and produce results, the maritime and economic blockade is viewed as effective and as a threat to the regime's ability to govern. According to U.S. intelligence officials, Iran's military and Revolutionary Guards have been unable to pay salaries for several months because of the loss of oil revenue. U.S. officials have concluded that intense military action would only allow the Iranian regime to divert public attention from domestic hardship. Their preferred course is to maintain and possibly expand the economic blockade.