Trump Signals Willingness to End War Without Reopening Strait of Hormuz as Iran Holds Position

In recent days, Trump and his aides concluded that an operation to reopen the strategic chokepoint would likely extend the conflict beyond his preferred four-to-six-week timeline, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The report added that Trump opted to focus on achieving key objectives, that is, weakening Iran's naval capabilities and missile reserves before scaling back active hostilities, while increasing diplomatic pressure on Tehran to restore normal trade flows.

If those efforts fall short, United States officials would look to allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead in reopening the strait, according to the report. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said that the Arab countries can be asked to share the burden of the military operation in Iran. "I think it's something the president would be quite interested in. I won't get ahead of him on that but certainly it's an idea, something that I think you'll hear more from him on," she said.

Trump granted Iran a 10-day cooling-off period last week, describing the decision as a response to what he called a "gift" from Tehran, allowing eight oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and pausing planned strikes on key energy infrastructure. He also framed the move as a sign of progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts, adding that Iran had sought more cime through backchannel communications.

The development underscores a calculated shift in Washington’s approach, balancing military objectives with diplomatic engagement as tensions persist over one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.