The Trump administration has announced fresh sanctions against Iran and international entities conducting business with the Middle Eastern nation, in a move that analysts have labeled "Operation Economic Outcast" aimed at compelling Tehran to negotiate an end to the conflict. These new measures come after repeated demands by US President Donald Trump for Iranian leaders to withdraw claims over the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on dismantling their nuclear program. Despite six months of military operations against Iran, the US has seen little impact, with depleted munitions stocks and diverted power projection tools. Experts argue that these economic sanctions are unlikely to force Iran into concessions, as the long-term ramifications of the war have pushed the Trump administration to adopt this approach. The sanctions, which affect 60 individuals and entities worldwide, fail to target major Chinese banks or other crucial players in Iran's oil trade, with 90% of its crude oil exports going to China. The US Treasury Secretary admitted that confronting China directly on this issue would risk disrupting the global financial system. The strategic withdrawal of key military assets such as aircraft carriers and the damage or unsafe use of key bases in the region have added to supply line challenges for the US, with some experts suggesting that the US may have permanently lost access to 15 Persian Gulf bases.