31/03/26, Iran war

US President Donald Trump is willing to end the ongoing military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, marking a significant shift in Washington's war objectives, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing administration officials.

The report said Trump has told aides that reopening the critical oil chokepoint is no longer essential to declaring success, even as disruptions in the waterway continue to threaten global energy flows.

War goals narrowed to weakening Iran's military

According to the WSJ report, the US has recalibrated its immediate objectives in the conflict.

Instead of focusing on reopening the strait, Washington now aims to:

• Hobble Iran's naval capabilities
• Degrade its missile stockpiles
• Reduce its ability to threaten shipping lanes in the future

Officials told the newspaper that once these goals are achieved, the US is likely to wind down active hostilities, even if commercial shipping through Hormuz has not fully resumed.

Hormuz reopening seen as too complex, time-consuming

The shift is driven by operational constraints, the report said.

Trump and his aides assessed that a full-scale mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would:

• Extend the conflict beyond the administration's preferred four-to-six-week timeline
• Require a prolonged military presence
• Involve complex operations such as mine-clearing and tanker escorts under threat

Officials told WSJ that such a move risks dragging the US into a longer and more unpredictable conflict, something Trump is keen to avoid.

Diplomacy first, allies later

Instead of immediate military action to restore shipping, the US is planning a phased approach, according to the report:

1. Diplomatic pressure on Iran: Washington will push Tehran to restore the free flow of trade through negotiations.

2. Burden-sharing with allies: If diplomacy fails, the US is expected to press European and Gulf allies to take the lead in securing and reopening the waterway.

3. Military option deferred: A US-led operation to reopen Hormuz remains on the table but is likely to be considered at a later stage.

A redefinition of ‘victory' in the war

The WSJ report points to a broader strategic pivot.

Earlier, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries roughly a fifth of global oil shipments, was seen as central to the US war effort.

Now, officials indicate that success is being redefined as: weakening Iran's military capabilities rather than restoring shipping flows immediately

What this means for global oil markets

The decision could have far-reaching implications.

If the strait remains restricted:

• Iran retains leverage over a critical global energy corridor
• Oil markets may face prolonged uncertainty and supply risks
• Countries dependent on Gulf crude, including India, China, and European economies, may face continued volatility

The WSJ report notes that the burden of securing the waterway could increasingly shift away from the US to its allies, signalling a potential change in Washington's role as the primary guarantor of maritime security in the region.