White House officials are emphasizing economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran, with one official downplaying the current situation as "not a war" despite ongoing strikes. This strategy involves "intermittent military force combined with sustained economic pressure."
The administration recently announced "Operation Economic Outcast," an initiative aimed at further isolating Iran from its international trading partners. However, the effectiveness of this campaign has been limited, and imposing sanctions severe enough to significantly disrupt Iranian trade could necessitate confronting major economic players such as China, India, and Russia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this week that the primary focus moving forward would be economic pressure, while maintaining the option of military force when deemed necessary. Meanwhile, former President Trump has publicly encouraged domestic dissent in Iran, posting on social media, "When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?"
When questioned about the possibility of arming Iranian dissidents or providing other direct assistance, Vance indicated that all options remain under consideration. "Everything that could happen is on the table: economic pressure, military pressure, diplomatic pressure, covert pressure," he said. "Of course, these are tools in the President's toolkit."
Vance made these remarks at a White House press briefing.