US President Donald Trump said that "we are only semi-negotiating" with Iran, noting that he is prepared to allow economic pressure on Iran to mount -- as opposed to ordering a new military offensive, Axios reported. 

"We are low keying it," Trump told Axios during a brief phone call, arguing that Iran "is in very bad shape" economically. The report noted that an agreement governing traffic in the Strait of Hormuz was negotiated among Iran, Oman and the United States and "has been pending for a few days now."