The Trump administration believes its renewed maximum-pressure economic campaign against Iran could inflict more lasting damage on Tehran than military strikes, even as U.S. officials acknowledge sanctions and a naval blockade may take longer to force Iran back to the negotiating table.

According to Axios, U.S. intelligence and open-source reporting indicate Iran is facing mounting economic turmoil, including gasoline shortages despite being one of the world's largest oil producers.

"The Iranians want to stop being bombed and they want money," a senior administration official was quoted in the report.

"But that's almost in reverse order. They really want the money first."

President Donald Trump, who paused U.S. strikes over the weekend after 13 consecutive days of attacks, said Monday that Iran had requested talks on a potential agreement.

"Without what we did [the bombing], they wouldn't even be talking to us," Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied that claim.

Negotiations are continuing through mediators including Oman, Qatar, and Pakistan in an effort to turn the current pause in fighting into a more durable ceasefire.

One proposal under discussion would give Iran and Oman a role in managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially generating additional revenue for Tehran.

"Some of the Iranians want this. Others don't. That's part of the issue," the senior administration official said.

Iran is seeking assurances it will not face additional U.S. military strikes while also pressing for access to frozen assets and relief from U.S. sanctions.

Yet the president has resisted offering economic concessions and is demanding Iran surrender its remaining nuclear material.

A second U.S. official acknowledged that sanctions and the U.S. naval blockade would likely require more time than an expanded military campaign to change Iran's behavior, creating a prolonged timeline that could leave Republicans defending higher gas prices and continued conflict heading into the midterm elections.

"I have a lot of patience," Trump told reporters Monday.

U.S. officials argued the economic campaign is already straining Iran's finances.

"Intelligence is picking up that the Iranians are complaining they can't pay their fighters," one U.S. official said.

"Why? Because of the financial pressures. Because of Treasury. Because of what [Treasury Secretary] Scott Bessent is doing."

"They're in danger of runs on banks. There are gasoline shortages in this giant oil-rich country," the official added.

"They're more scared of Treasury than the War Department."

According to U.S. officials cited by Axios, Iranian negotiators previously emphasized access to cash during discussions with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

"They're begging Steve and Jared for cash. They're desperate for it," one official claimed.

Axios further reported Trump's decision to pause the bombing campaign came after Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine warned about pressure on U.S. weapons stockpiles assigned to U.S. Central Command, particularly air-defense interceptors.

"The overall stockpiles aren't depleted or at zero," the senior U.S. official said.

"When you have to consider pulling from stockpiles around the world, that comes with risks, and you have to present that to the commander-in-chief. He decides. He's the decider."

Critics, however, question whether either military action or economic pressure will compel Iran to accept Trump's demands.

Obsidian Risk Advisors analyst Brett Erickson noted Iran generated an estimated $23 billion in oil revenue during the first half of the year, exceeding its own budget projections.

"Economic warfare is a fundamentally broken approach to the Iran War," Erickson wrote Monday on X.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration's strategy, telling Axios that Trump "prefers a diplomatic solution, but he continues to retain all options if Iran continues terrorist activities in the Strait of Hormuz or against allies."

"Combined with successful sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy and 13 straight days of strikes against military targets in response to their repeated aggression, it would be wise for Iran to work toward a negotiated deal," Leavitt told Axios.

"Otherwise, they know what will happen."

Another U.S. official added, "The president has a win-win optionality. The U.S. is capable of prosecuting this militarily to the fullest extent. And the U.S. is capable to exerting economic sanctions that cripple Iran."