Trump says he is prepared to end military operations against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing U.S. government officials, Trump told his aides that he is ready to conclude military actions against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz is largely blocked.
This statement essentially reflects a combination of strategic retrenchment, using force to prompt negotiations, and prioritizing domestic politics. Time-wise, he has set a red line—unwilling to be trapped in the Middle East for an extended period. In terms of objectives, he has scaled back the goals: shifting from "opening the Strait of Hormuz" to weakening Iran's navy and missile capabilities, no longer making the reopening of the strait a core military objective. Forcing open the strait would carry excessive costs, take unpredictable time, and further exacerbate global inflation and domestic political pressure.
Yet, while claiming to end operations, the U.S. simultaneously increases its military presence in the Middle East (including amphibious ships, the 82nd Airborne Division, and plans to deploy an additional 10,000 ground troops)—a contradiction between deterrence and retreat.
If the U.S. first halts hostilities and then enters negotiations, Iran may perceive the ceasefire as a sign of American surrender, making it harder for Iran to compromise during talks—and possibly even strengthening Iran’s control over the strait.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861148803809292/
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