Washington, DC [US], March 31 (ANI): US President Donald Trump is considering ending the US military campaign in Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, The Wall Street Journal reported.
He indicated to aides that he is prepared to wind down military operations against Iran within a four- to six-week timeline, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. This decision would likely extend Tehran’s control over the vital waterway, shifting the focus to diplomatic efforts to reopen it. Trump has expressed willingness to scale down hostilities after achieving key objectives, including weakening Iran’s navy and missile capabilities.
According to administration officials, the President believes the US can declare victory by meeting its “core” military goals without becoming entangled in a prolonged maritime clearance mission, The Wall Street Journal reported. Trump characterized the closure as a problem primarily for Asia and Europe, noting that 84 percent of the oil passing through the strait is bound for Asian markets. He maintained that the US is no longer as dependent on Middle Eastern energy.
The closure of the strait has caused significant disruptions, with oil prices surging past $100 a barrel and potential shortages of fertilizer and other critical goods.
The US could consider escorting tankers or pursuing a multinational effort to reopen the strait, but these are not immediate priorities, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Despite discussions of ending the war, the US military footprint in the region continues to expand, presenting a contradictory picture of the administration’s potential exit. The USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have arrived, with elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and up to 10,000 additional ground troops under consideration.
Trump has alternately threatened to bomb Iran’s civilian energy grid if the strait is not reopened, while also referring to the war as a “lovely stay” and an “excursion.”
Earlier, the White House on Monday (local time) said that the recent movement of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, despite a virtual blockage amid the West Asia conflict, is the result of ongoing direct and indirect talks between the United States and Iran. It credited diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump.
Addressing a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected claims that Iran is selectively allowing certain tankers to pass or imposing informal controls over maritime traffic.
“That’s not something we support, and I would reject that they are cherry-picking. In fact, these tankers that are moving through—the 10 that were previously announced and now the new 20, the announcement of 20 additional tankers, which we expect to see over the coming days—are a result of the direct and indirect talks that are taking place between the United States and Iran,” she said.
Leavitt further insisted that such tanker movements would not have been possible without sustained diplomatic engagement by the US administration led by Trump.
“So, you wouldn’t have seen those tankers if not for the president’s diplomacy and his team engaging on this matter, which we expect that compliance moving forward, and it’s again something that we’re working on very closely,” she added.
On Sunday, Trump said that Iran is allowing 20 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “sign of respect.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that Iran initially agreed to allow 10 tankers through the strait and then added 10 more, which he described as a positive development.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Security Committee on Monday (local time) approved the Strait of Hormuz Management Plan, which includes measures to impose tolls on vessels passing through the strategic waterway, as reported by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
According to IRIB, a member of the National Security Commission announced that the plan was formally approved, outlining key areas of focus, including security arrangements for the strait, ship safety, environmental protection, financial arrangements, and the implementation of a rial-based toll system.
The plan also explicitly bans passage for American and Israeli vessels, reinforces the sovereign role of Iran and its armed forces, and outlines cooperation with Oman in establishing the legal framework for the strait. Additionally, it prohibits passage for countries participating in unilateral sanctions against Iran, IRIB reported.
The approved measures come amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition, currently in its second month, and reflect Tehran’s efforts to assert control over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments transit. (ANI)
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