US President Donald Trump is considering ending the US military campaign in Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Trump signaled to his aides that he is prepared to end military operations against Iran within a four to six week time frame, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The decision would likely further increase Tehran’s control over the vital waterway, making it the focus of diplomatic efforts to reopen it. Trump has expressed his desire to end hostilities after achieving key objectives such as weakening Iran’s naval and missile capabilities.
According to administration officials, the president believes the US can declare victory by achieving its “key” military goals without engaging in a lengthy maritime cleanup campaign, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Trump described the closure of the strait as a problem mainly for Asia and Europe and said that 84% of the oil passing through this strait is for Asian markets. He emphasized that the US is no longer as dependent on Middle Eastern energy.
The closure of the strait is causing significant disruption, sending oil prices soaring above $100 a barrel and potentially causing shortages of fertilizer and other critical commodities.
The US could consider a multinational effort to escort the tankers or reopen the strait, but these are not immediate priorities, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Despite talk of ending the war, the US military presence in the region continues to grow, painting a contradictory picture of the administration’s “withdrawal”. The USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have arrived, and parts of the 82nd Airborne and 10,000 additional ground troops are being considered for deployment.
On the one hand, Trump has threatened to bomb Iran’s civilian energy grid if the Strait is not opened, while on the other hand he has described the war as a “pleasant stay” and an “excursion”.
Earlier, on Monday (local time), the White House claimed that the recent movement of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, despite a virtual blockade amid the Middle East conflict, is the result of ongoing direct and indirect talks between the United States and Iran.
It credited the diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump.
Addressing a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt rejected claims that Iran is selectively allowing certain tankers to pass or imposing informal controls on maritime traffic.
She claimed, “We do not support this, and I reject that they are being arbitrary. In fact, these tankers, in addition to the 10 previously announced, and the 20 additional tankers now being announced in the coming days, are the result of direct and indirect negotiations taking place between the US and Iran.”
Leavitt further stressed that such movement of tankers would not have been possible without sustained diplomatic efforts by the Trump-led US administration.
He added, “Without the President’s diplomacy and the activism his team has done on this matter, you would not have seen those tankers. We are hopeful that there will be compliance in this matter going forward, and it is an issue on which we are working very closely.”
On Sunday, Trump said Iran was 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 Iran had initially agreed to send 10 boats through the strait and then added 10 more, which he considered a positive development.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament’s security committee on Monday (local time) approved the Hormuz Strait management plan, which includes measures to impose tolls on ships passing through the strategic waterway, Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported.
According to IRIB, a member of the National Security Commission announced that the plan has been formally approved, detailing key areas of focus including security arrangements for the strait, ship safety, environmental protection, financial arrangements and the implementation of a riyal-based toll system.
The plan explicitly bans the passage of American and Israeli vessels, reinforces the sovereign role of Iran and its armed forces, and outlines cooperation with Oman in establishing a legal framework for the Strait.
Additionally, the plan also restricts travel to countries participating in unilateral sanctions against Iran, according to the IRIB report.
The approved measures come amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance in West Asia, which has currently entered its second month. The measures reflect Tehran’s efforts to establish control over one of the world’s most important sea lanes, which carries a significant portion of global oil shipments.