Axios: The CIA and the US Department of the Treasury demanded the continuation of the blockade of Iran instead of a military attack. John Ratcliffe, head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Scott Bessant, the Minister of Finance and a number of other Trump advisers want to continue the naval blockade and economic pressure campaign against Iran. The purpose of this approach is to increase the pressure on Tehran and tighten the circle of economic restrictions, without immediately returning to military activity.