The United States is escalating economic warfare against Iran to force a resolution. However, Chinese observers caution that this aggressive strategy risks prolonging the conflict and damaging the US economy.

The US appears to be intensifying its war efforts with an economic squeeze to force Iran to cave in before further talks, but Chinese observers say the strategy could risk prolonging the conflict and backfire on the US economy. With a two-week ceasefire to expire on April 22, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has renewed his threat against Iran, saying that the US will attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure if diplomatic efforts fail. “Our forces are maximally postured to restart combat...