World · India Bureau
US Keeps All Options Open Against Iran, Signals Covert Pressure
The incoming Trump administration has signalled it will pursue multiple strategies to counter Iran, including covert measures, while expressing concern over threats to global energy security. The stance reflects broader US anxiety over Iranian activities in strategic shipping lanes.
LSN India ·
Vice President-elect JD Vance has indicated that the incoming administration plans to deploy a comprehensive toolkit against Iran, ranging from overt diplomatic and economic measures to covert operations. Speaking on the administration's Iran strategy, Vance emphasized that "all options remain on the table" as policymakers prepare to take office.
The administration's multifaceted approach is being framed as essential to preventing a wider global energy crisis. Officials have pointed to what they describe as Iran's continued targeting of commercial shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world's oil passes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically important waterways, and disruptions to shipping there carry direct implications for energy prices and supply chains globally, including in India and other Asian economies heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
Vance's comments suggest the Trump administration is preparing to take a harder line on Iran policy compared to the outgoing Biden administration, with an emphasis on deterrence through both visible and clandestine pressure. The specifics of any covert operations were not detailed.