U.S.-Iran escalation shows Washington's frustration with slow-moving sanctions

An Iranian flag flutters in the wind as ships remain anchored on May 16, 2026 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran.Majid Saeedi | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe escalation in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend shows the U.S. is running out of patience with the slower-moving sanctions approach, according to analysts.U.S. forces destroyed two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, as the Islamic Republic prepared to fire mine-carrying rockets into the Strait of Hormuz, ending a month-long lull in direct fighting.The strike was the first publicly acknowledged U.S. attack since late July. Iran responded within hours, firing eight missiles at the King Hussein and Al Azraq air bases in Jordan. Jordanian air defenses intercepted all eight, with no casualties, the government said.Later Sunday, President Donald Trump threatened on social media to blow up Kharg Island, Iran's main oil-export hub, to "smithereens.""Most of the war has been tactically focused rather than strategic from the outset," said Ian Ralby, a maritime security expert and president of Auxilium Worldwide. "The question, therefore, is: why this, why now?" The sanctions campa...