David E. Sanger's Times article reports that President Trump is leaning toward declaring the Iran nuclear crisis over without a deal, redirecting JD Vance from talks with Iran's security chief, while roughly 970 pounds of 60 percent enriched uranium sits untouched under Pickaxe Mountain and the naval blockade holds. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls the approach strategic patience, awaiting sanctions to crack Iran's government, but the article predicts Tehran will keep disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, escalate under economic pressure, and that regional officials worry Iran may seek a bomb.