Washington, March 31: The White House is preparing to wind down active hostilities against Iran after achieving primary military objectives, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked to international shipping. Reports maintained that President Donald Trump has decided to focus on the destruction of Iran’s missile stocks and naval assets rather than engaging in a prolonged engagement to force open the waterway.
Administration officials stated that the logistical demands of prying open the chokepoint would push the current conflict well beyond the administration’s established window of approximately one month. Consequently, the United States plans to rely on diplomatic leverage to encourage Tehran to resume trade flows.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the status of the operation on Monday, noting that the mission has reached its 30th day.
“The president and the chief of the Pentagon have always stated a four to six-week estimated timeline for the military operation,” Leavitt maintained.
The administration is also exploring options to shift the financial and operational burden of the Iran campaign to neighboring Arab nations. When questioned about the role of Gulf allies in supporting the mission’s costs, Leavitt declared that such a shift is under consideration.
“I think it’s something the President would be quite interested in,” Leavitt affirmed.
Military action in the region was initiated late last month following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes. While the campaign has focused on neutralizing specific Iranian threats, the strategic closure of the Strait of Hormuz has created a global shipping crisis. The lane is the primary connection between the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and its continued obstruction has halted the transit of liquid cargo and dry bulk ships essential to the global economy. Should the current shift in strategy proceed, the responsibility for securing the strait may eventually fall to a coalition of European and Gulf partners.
