U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to end the war against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened for oil and gas shipments.
Details
The Wall Street Journal reported this, citing officials from Trump’s administration. According to them, Trump told his aides he is prepared to stop the military campaign even without restoring full access through the strait. Recently, Trump and his team concluded that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would take longer than expected. They estimate the operation could extend the conflict by another four to six weeks.
Instead, Trump decided the U.S. should focus on its main objectives: disabling Iran’s navy and destroying its missile arsenal. After that, Washington plans to end the military operation and shift to diplomatic pressure on Tehran. The goal is to push Iran to restore free commercial shipping.
Alternative Options
The report says that if the plan fails, the U.S. will encourage European allies and countries of the Persian Gulf to take the lead in reopening the strait. Officials also mentioned several other military options, though they are not a priority right now. This week, the amphibious assault ship Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit entered the Middle East.
Trump also ordered the deployment of units from the 82nd Airborne Division to the region. He has not ruled out sending an additional 10,000 ground troops. The United States has already reinforced its forces involved in hundreds of special operations missions in the area. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. is following the timeline of Operation Epic Fury.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Trump wants to “take Iran’s oil.” He also said he could seize Kharg Island and noted progress in negotiations with Tehran.
