US official: Trump holds strong leverage options against Iran

A US official has stated that President Donald Trump possesses several strong leverage options that he can use against Iran in the coming weeks, noting that the US administration is divided over the prospect of war with Iran and possible solutions to the ongoing crisis.

The official added, according to Reuters, that Iran's leaders currently have no incentive to back down or reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump has reiterated that the United States "will never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon," and also expressed that he views the Strait of Hormuz as being under American control. He predicted that energy prices would fall once the standoff with Tehran ends.

Trump said: "We cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon... We went and stopped them."