Iran does not appear to be publicly intimidated by the prospect of more financial sanctions. "Economic pressure is a possible element in his strategy, but he's yet to explain the purpose," Nephew said. Trump has said they didn't go far enoughTrump's latest pivot to economic issues with Iran is something of a flip-flop. Trump has long derided past presidents who used sanctions to limit Iran's economic ability to pay for its military and nuclear development. The U.S. economy — the world's largest — has continued to grow, but inflation is elevated and borrowing costs have risen in ways that have hurt Trump's popularity and led to disapproval of the Iran war.