ISLAMABAD: United States (US) President Donald Trump is prepared to end US military operations against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, administration officials told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
According to the American publication, Trump's team determined that forcing the waterway open would push the conflict past his four-to-six week target. The focus stays on crippling Iran's navy and missile stocks. The strait's fate gets handed to diplomacy – or to US allies.
Should that fail, Washington will press European and Gulf partners to lead any reopening effort, officials told the WSJ.
The world has been reeling from rising oil prices since the start of the conflict. Brent crude has surged from roughly $67 a barrel before the conflict to above $115 by March 31, a rise of approximately 72%, according to market data.
Bloomberg attributed the increase to a "near-halt" of shipping through the waterway, which carries one-fifth of global oil supply.
Yet Trump administration officials have sent conflicting signals on the Middle East War. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Al Jazeera that military objectives would be met "in weeks, not months," while separately vowing the strait would reopen "one way or another."
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared the "Department of War will continue negotiating with bombs," then insisted the conflict is not a "regime change war," as reported by the AFP.
Diplomatic efforts are running parallel to the military campaign. On March 25, the US presented a 15-point peace framework to Iran through Pakistani mediators, according to AFP. The plan calls for a ceasefire, nuclear dismantlement, and a full reopening of the strait.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed on March 26 that "indirect talks are taking place," with Islamabad relaying messages between Washington and Tehran.
The war entered its 32nd day on Tuesday. A handful of non-hostile vessels, primarily Chinese, have begun transiting the waterway, according to AFP.
