President Trump has told aides he is willing to end the military campaign against Iran even if the Strait
By Bernie,
President Trump has told aides he is willing to end the military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing administration officials. Trump and his team assessed that a mission to reopen the waterway would push the conflict beyond his timeline of four to six weeks. Instead, the U.S. would look to achieve its core goals of degrading Iran's navy and missile stockpiles, wind down hostilities, and pressure Tehran diplomatically to resume the flow of trade. If that fails, Washington would push European and Gulf allies to take the lead.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Al Jazeera the current campaign to complete U.S. military objectives would be finished within weeks. "Then we'll be confronted with this issue of the Straits of Hormuz, and it will be up to Iran to decide, or a coalition of nations from around the world and the region, with the participation of the United States, we'll make sure that it's open, one way or the other," Rubio said.
Trump urged other countries to act on their own, posting on Truth Social: "Build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!" The message was directed at countries including the UK, which Trump criticized for not joining the U.S.-Israeli campaign.
U.S. oil closed above $100 a barrel on Monday for the first time since 2022. Some analysts project prices could reach $200 if disruption to the strait continues. Nearly 40 countries, including the UK, France, and Canada, have pledged readiness to contribute to efforts to ensure safe passage through the waterway.
Topics: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Missile Defense & Alerts
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