Washington, March 31: President Donald Trump has expressed a willingness to halt the conflict with Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal, officials from the Trump administration revealed that the president has indicated to his aides that he is ready to end the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.
The report states that Trump and his team believe that attempting to reopen the crucial maritime routes for global oil supply could prolong the war with Iran. Trump had initially set a timeframe of four to six weeks to conclude this conflict; however, this mission may extend beyond that period.
News agency Xinhua reported that Trump has decided that the U.S. should focus on weakening Iran’s navy and missile stockpiles as a primary objective. Diplomatic pressure should be applied to Tehran to resume the free flow of trade through the Strait.
Meanwhile, the U.S. president has determined that if these efforts fail, the White House will pressure European and Gulf allies to take action to reopen the Strait.
Officials further noted that military options remain on the table, but they are not Trump’s immediate priority. Despite this assessment, Trump’s public messaging regarding the conflict with Iran has not been consistent. On Monday morning, he threatened to completely destroy all Iranian electric plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island if a deal is not reached soon.
In the meantime, the government has taken steps to strengthen the presence of U.S. forces in the region. Last week, the USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit entered the area, with parts of the 82nd Airborne Division also beginning to arrive.
According to The Wall Street Journal, there is also consideration for the deployment of an additional 10,000 ground troops. Trump is contemplating a challenging mission to seize control of Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities.
White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt stated on Monday that the U.S. is working towards resuming normal shipping through the Strait, although reopening it is not a primary military objective. Trump’s main focus is targeting Iran’s navy, missile program, defense industry, and nuclear infrastructure.
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