military pressure

President Donald Trump alternated between launching military strikes against Iranian targets and signaling willingness to negotiate a deal, testing Iran's response. He canceled planned strikes after claiming high-level Iranian engagement, while threatening future actions against Iran's energy infrastructure.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg urges the U.S. to intensify military and economic pressure on Iran by seizing strategic islands like Kharg Island, targeting its energy sector, and arming insurgents, arguing that continued negotiations are ineffective. He claims Iran's fractured leadership and economic collapse present an opportunity to 'finish the job' and force regime collapse.