US President Donald Trump is weighing whether to declare an end to the Iran war, even as his administration prepares for the possibility of a prolonged
confrontation, The Wall Street Journal reported. Trump has privately indicated support for ending the war, arguing that continued economic pressure could force Tehran to dismantle its nuclear programme or ultimately lead to the regime’s collapse. The deliberations come six months after Washington launched its military campaign against Iran, initially billed as a swift and decisive operation. However, the Pentagon is now extending troop deployments across the Middle East, with around 50,000 US troops, 19 warships and additional air-defence and combat assets currently in the region. Senior aides have also warned that a major escalation could damage Republican prospects in the November midterm elections.
Hormuz still a sticking point
Despite Trump’s talk of bringing the war to an end, the United States is still weighing options for a major escalation. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump was briefed last month on additional military plans, including intensified airstrikes, a possible ground operation to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on the fortified Pickaxe Mountain site, which US officials believe could be used for covert nuclear activity. Any such operation would require Washington to maintain a significant military presence in the region.
Iran, meanwhile, has shown no sign of backing down, with the two sides continuing to exchange fire as they battle for leverage over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has claimed that the US now has "almost total control" of the waterway, even as the conflict continues to put pressure on global shipping and Iran’s economy.
"I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing," Trump wrote on social media, adding that the Iranian people would eventually “rise up and fight.”
The war is also creating growing logistical challenges for the US military. WSJ reported that disruptions to normal resupply routes have forced Navy ships to rely heavily on Diego Garcia, the remote US-British military base in the Indian Ocean.
At the same time, elements of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division could remain deployed in the Middle East well into 2027, according to a letter from military leaders to families reviewed by the newspaper.
The developments underscore the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s Iran endgame: while the president is considering whether to declare the war over, the Pentagon continues to prepare for a conflict that could stretch well into next year.
