US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has informed several foreign counterparts that Washington does not currently expect to launch additional strikes against Iran, according to two sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to Axios on Tuesday.
Rubio told allied foreign ministers that, "for the time being," the administration's emphasis is shifting toward alternative forms of pressure, including the new sanctions campaign announced this week.
The policy comes as the United States assesses that its naval blockade is placing increasing pressure on Iran while US efforts have enabled growing quantities of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
A US official told Axios Rubio made clear that Washington does not intend to resume major combat operations at present, although he did not rule out military strikes if Iran launches an attack first.
Another US official described the US Navy's removal of mines from the Strait of Hormuz as a major turning point in the conflict, saying it has substantially weakened one of Iran's principal sources of leverage.
According to the sources, Rubio outlined several elements of the Trump administration's current strategy during calls with foreign ministers: Avoid military action against Iran for the time being, intensify economic pressure through the naval blockade and the Treasury Department's new sanctions initiative, and move as much Iranian oil as possible through the Strait of Hormuz and into international markets.
A second US official told Axios that the approach is expected to remain in place at least through the midterm elections, after which another military campaign could potentially be considered.
US officials say the removal of mines from most of the Strait of Hormuz, together with the increasing number of tankers using the waterway's southern lane, has sharply reduced Tehran's ability to influence global energy markets.
"The Iranians have lost control over the strait. Now the U.S. controls it," one US official told Axios.
The US blockade is also affecting Iran's oil revenues. American officials say that almost no tankers have been seen at Kharg Island, the country's primary oil export hub, during the past two weeks.
"The Iranian economy is in free fall and the regime's military has been decimated," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told Axios, "and we are cutting off every financial lifeline the regime has remaining."
He added, "The President has been clear that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and that he will use the tools necessary to ensure that objective is accomplished."
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth clarified on Monday that the Trump administration is not ruling out using military force against Iran, even after Washington unveiled new economic sanctions against Tehran.
“By no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran," Hegseth told reporters.
He further stated that Iran cannot handle the economic pressure being put on it.