President Donald Trump declared on June 10 that the US would respond “hard” to Iran after an exchange of military strikes that included the downing of a US Apache helicopter. The White House is now actively considering additional military options as it tries to force Tehran into a deal constraining its nuclear ambitions and regional influence.
Military brinkmanship meets nuclear diplomacy
In May 2026, Trump paused planned military actions after mediation requests from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. The Gulf states, sitting uncomfortably between two adversaries with very large arsenals, have been active in trying to keep diplomacy alive.
Operation Economic Fury and the $1 billion crypto seizure
Under Operation Economic Fury, the US has seized approximately $1 billion in Iranian-linked digital assets. The operation has targeted sophisticated networks designed to evade sanctions.
