The US plans to intercept ships linked to Iran’s war efforts. At the same time, US intelligence says Iran has preserved a large share of its pre-war military capabilities. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has refused to seize Kharg Island, citing concerns over potential troop losses.
Vessel interceptions
The United States is preparing to intercept Iran-linked vessels worldwide. In particular, Washington wants to expand its maritime operation beyond the Middle East. The Wall Street Journal reported this.
The effort is part of a broader strategy known as “Economic Fury.” It targets tankers and commercial ships that support Tehran, for example, by transporting oil or supplying weapons. Earlier, US forces already turned back 23 vessels leaving Iranian ports. The escalation comes amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has said it will tighten control over the waterway and has already attacked some commercial vessels. As a result, shipping companies have rerouted traffic.
According to US projections, this new form of economic pressure could push Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, Washington wants Tehran to make concessions on enriched uranium.
Iran’s military potential
Despite weeks of US and Israeli strikes, Iran still retains significant military strength. According to US intelligence cited by The New York Times, the country has preserved much of its pre-war arsenal.
Iran still has access to about 70% of its ballistic missiles, 60% of its launch systems, and 40% of its strike drones. Analysts link these numbers to Iran’s pre-war strategy of stockpiling weapons. However, these estimates contradict earlier official statements. The Pentagon previously said the US had disabled around 90% of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities. Israel also claimed it had destroyed 70% of Iran’s launchers by day 16 of the conflict. Intelligence analysts suggest Iran deliberately kept launch rates low throughout the campaign. This allowed it to conserve its arsenal.
Trump rejects Kharg Island plan
The Wall Street Journal also reported that Donald Trump rejected a plan to seize Kharg Island. The main reason was the risk of significant US military casualties. According to the report, Trump is wary of deploying troops into high-risk zones where they could be injured or killed. He believes US forces would become easy targets. Even though the mission could succeed and restore access to the strait, he decided against it.
In addition, anonymous sources said Trump reacted angrily after learning that Iran had downed a US aircraft, leaving two pilots missing. He demanded immediate action to recover them. Sources added that Trump recalled the trauma of the Iran hostage crisis. That episode remains one of the most significant foreign policy failures in US presidential history.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that the United States extended sanctions relief for Russian oil despite previous promises. The US Treasury issued a new general license allowing transactions involving Russian oil and petroleum products for another month.
