00:00U.S. President Donald Trump is signalling that Washington will rely on economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran
00:06rather than launching another major military offensive.
00:10In a phone interview with Axios, Trump said the U.S. was still in contact with Tehran but was only
00:17semi-negotiating.
00:20In the interview, Trump claimed that Iran's economy was already in poor shape
00:24and that the U.S. naval blockade had put even more pressure on the country.
00:28His comments marked a shift in tone from the previous week
00:32when U.S. officials said he had been considering a return to major combat operations.
00:37The more restrained posture comes as negotiations involving Iran, Oman and the United States
00:42over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved.
00:46The proposed arrangement would give Iran some control over traffic through the strategic waterway.
00:52The deal was initially expected to be announced on Wednesday, according to Qatari and Pakistani mediators.
00:57But those prospects have since faded.
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