American media: U.S. military action against Iran for the time being

On 26 August, according to Axios, United States Secretary of State Rubio has recently indicated to a number of allied national officials that, at present, the United States does not anticipate a new military strike against Iran. According to informed sources, it is the current policy of the Trump Government “to temporarily avoid military action against Iran” and instead to increase economic pressure through the United States naval blockade and a new round of Department of the Treasury sanctions, and to promote as much oil as possible into the global energy market through the Strait of Hormuz. According to United States officials, the removal of most of the mines in the Strait of Hormuz and the recent increase in the number of tankers passing through the southern channel have “broadly weakened Iran's influence on the global energy market”. A United States official stated: “Iran has lost control of the Strait and the United States now controls it”. The United States side believes that the maritime blockade is cutting off Iran ' s important source of income, with almost no tankers in the last two weeks near the Iranian main oil-exporting port of Khark Island. According to Rubio, the United States does not currently plan to resume large-scale military operations, but if Iran takes the lead in launching an attack, the United States retains the strike option. According to another United States official, this policy is expected to continue at least until after the mid-term elections, when new military operations may become an option。