Trump leans toward economic pressure on Iran over military strikes, US media reports

US President Donald Trump indicated in an interview with Axios that he favors applying economic pressure on Iran rather than launching new military action. He described the current engagement as 'semi-negotiations' and pointed to Iran's severe inflation and the impact of a US maritime blockade. Iran's foreign minister denied any negotiations are taking place, while Vice President JD Vance said the conflict has entered a 'middle game' involving a mix of diplomatic, economic, and military tools.