Iran war: Trump says he’s considering ‘winding down’ US military operations
The Strait of Hormuz will have to be guarded and policed by ‘other nations’, the US president says
US President Donald Trump said Friday he was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran three weeks into the war, but warned the Strait of Hormuz would need to be policed by other countries.
Trump’s comments were his strongest signal yet of an end to the conflict, although the key oil passage effectively remains closed, as thousands more Marines are headed to the Middle East.
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it – The United States does not!” he said.
Trump – who has previously given shifting goals for the war, including regime change – listed the objectives as ensuring Iran could never get a nuclear weapon, destroying its missile arsenal, navy, air force and industrial base, and protecting Gulf allies.
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The US leader had earlier branded Nato allies “cowards” for failing to heed his calls to secure the strait, on which Iran has a virtual stranglehold.