Trump’s intense attacks have failed to sway Iran. He’s trying again anyway

President Donald ⁠Trump has ramped up US air strikes on Iran and threatened broader escalation, but there is ⁠little sign that a military strategy that has already failed to extract concessions from Tehran will succeed this time.

With the collapse of an interim ceasefire deal reached a month ago, Trump finds himself in a bind as he seeks to break Iran’s grip on the vital Strait of Hormuz and force Tehran to accept his demands.

While the two sides have so far avoided a return to full-scale conflict, hopes of finding an off-ramp any time soon have faded in a crisis that has again driven up global oil prices and sent shock waves through financial markets.

A wave of tit-for-tat attacks continued into a sixth day on Thursday while Iran signalled it ‌could prod its Houthi allies in Yemen to close another vital oil-shipping strait – the Bab al-Mandeb at the mouth of the Red Sea – if Washington hits Iran’s power infrastructure as Trump has threatened.

Signalling increased frustration, Trump has discussed with aides, and in some cases spoken publicly, about possibly expanding targets to include energy plants and bridges, sending ground forces to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub and bombing a deep-underground nuclear-linked site known as Pickaxe Mountain.

Some of these options may be unrealistic due to the high risks and potential for domestic and geopolitical blowback. He has issued similar threats before only to back down.