Iran keeps finding out the hard way that President Donald Trump’s foreign policy playbook does not leave a lot of room for stalling, bluffing, or endless empty negotiations. As the regime weighs whether to respond to Trump’s latest nuclear proposal, officials and defense experts are openly warning what comes next if Tehran tries to drag this out too long: more crushing economic pressure, expanded military strikes, and a systematic dismantling of Iran’s ability to threaten the region. Speaking Saturday morning to reporters, our commander-in-chief said he expects to hear from Iran “very soon” regarding the latest United States peace proposal and suggested Tehran still “very much” wants to reach a lasting agreement. The president sounded cautiously optimistic but also made clear he is watching closely to see whether Iran is serious or simply trying to buy time, a tactic the regime has used throughout Operation Epic Fury. “We’re getting a letter [from Iran] supposedly tonight, so we’ll see how that goes,” Trump told reporters Friday evening from his golf club in Virginia. When asked whether Iran could be intentionally dragging out negotiations, Trump responded bluntly: “I don’t know. We’ll find out soon enough.” That uncertainty is exactly why the situation still feels like it could explode at any moment. Behind the scenes, negotiators are reportedly trying to piece together a preliminary framework tied to Iran’s nuclear program and possible sanctions relief. But former military officials say neither side actually trusts the other. Meanwhile, the pressure campaign on Tehran has not exactly disappeared. Just days after Iran launched missiles toward the UAE’s Fujairah Port, United States forces struck Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz. Officials insist the operation did not officially restart the war or end the ceasefire, but it sent a very clear message that America is still holding the bigger stick. And according to defense experts, Trump is intentionally keeping Iran guessing about how far he is willing to go. If negotiations collapse, experts say the U.S. would likely begin by targeting the systems Iran relies on to intimidate the Middle East and threaten global shipping lanes. That includes ballistic missiles, Revolutionary Guard infrastructure, command centers, naval attack boats, and air defense systems. One major target would almost certainly be Iran’s fast attack boat fleet in the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has long used to harass oil tankers and pressure the global economy. At the same time, Trump appears to be tightening the economic screws even further. Some experts say a maritime blockade alone could slowly suffocate Iran’s oil exports and leave the regime economically cornered within months. Others warn that if Iran refuses to deal, the next phase could become much more painful. Trump has already warned Iran that America could target key energy infrastructure and export hubs if Tehran continues pushing toward a nuclear weapon. The contrast with previous administrations is hard to miss. Instead of pallets of cash, endless appeasement, and weak red lines, Trump is signaling that Iran has two choices: negotiate seriously or watch America squeeze the regime even harder from every direction possible.