More: "The Iranians measure the timeline in months for themselves, and in weeks for the Trump administration and the global economy," said Ali Vaez, the Iran project director for the International Crisis Group. "They think Trump can't tolerate the strait remaining closed for another three weeks."

"The Iranian regime only cares about its survival, not about its people suffering, and it does still see this as an existential battle with the United States," said Mr. Vaez of the International Crisis Group. "And that's why it's not going to blink, regardless of how much the Iranian people suffer."