Trump Weighs Ending Iran Campaign With Strait of Hormuz Still Closed

President Donald Trump is reportedly open to halting U.S. military operations against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Monday. The development marks a significant shift in Washington's strategic calculus as the conflict stretches into its second month.

According to administration officials cited by the WSJ, Trump and his national security team concluded that any military mission to forcibly reopen the strait would extend the conflict well beyond the president's preferred four-to-six-week timeline. As a result, Trump has reportedly decided to wind down active hostilities once the U.S. achieves its core objectives — namely, degrading Iran's naval capabilities and depleting its missile stockpiles.

Rather than pursuing a military solution to reopen the critical waterway, Washington plans to rely on diplomatic pressure. If Tehran refuses to restore access, the U.S. intends to coordinate with European and Gulf allies to take the lead on reopening the passage.

The Strait of Hormuz sits at the center of the broader U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. Tehran has effectively choked off the channel using mines and missile strikes, disrupting a waterway that carries approximately 20% of global oil supply. The blockade has driven a sharp spike in worldwide oil and gas prices over the past month, rattling energy markets and raising alarm among major importing nations.

Trump had previously issued an April 6 deadline demanding Iran reopen the strait or face strikes on its energy and water infrastructure. Iran has largely dismissed these ultimatums and continued attacking commercial tankers attempting to navigate the passage.

With military action on the strait now seemingly off the table, the standoff shifts to the diplomatic arena — leaving global energy markets in a fragile and closely watched state.