US President Donald Trump has signalled his willingness to end the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Wall Street Journal, citing American officials, reported that Trump has told his advisors that he is ready to end the US-Israel war with Iran, even if the Hormuz Strait remains largely closed. Trump and his team believe that pushing to reopen the strait could prolong the war further.
Trump had originally set a 4 to 6 week timeline to conclude the conflict. His current priority is focused on weakening Iran’s navy, missile stockpiles, defence industry, and nuclear infrastructure. The strategy involves applying diplomatic pressure on Tehran to allow free flow of trade through the Hormuz Strait.
However, Trump’s public messaging has not been consistent. On Monday morning, he threatened to completely destroy Iran’s power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island if a deal is not reached quickly. The US has also strengthened its military presence in the region — the USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have been deployed and parts of the 82nd Airborne Division are also arriving.
According to the Wall Street Journal, deployment of an additional 10,000 ground troops is also under consideration. The White House press secretary said the US is working towards resuming normal shipping through the Hormuz Strait, though it is not currently a primary military objective. Trump’s main focus remains targeting Iran’s naval, missile, defence, and nuclear capabilities.
