White House Indicates Readiness to Conclude Iran Conflict Without Restoring Strait of Hormuz Access

(SeaPRwire) –   Securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz is not among the “core objectives” President Donald Trump has established for concluding his military operation against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters on Monday, potentially paving the way for Iran to maintain its strategic dominance over one of the world’s busiest oil shipping lanes for the foreseeable future.

During a White House press briefing on Monday, Leavitt was questioned about whether Trump would be willing to declare victory in Iran and terminate the war even if Iran persisted in blocking most vessels from transiting the strait. Leavitt responded that the U.S. and Israel initiated their military strikes in late February with the goals of destroying Iran’s navy, dismantling its missile and drone infrastructure, weakening its regional proxies, and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

“While the Administration is working toward the full reopening of the Strait, the Commander in Chief has clearly defined the core objectives of the operation for the American people,” Leavitt stated.

Even after the destruction of its navy and daily bombardments by U.S. warplanes, Iran’s military has continued to threaten merchant vessels transiting the vital waterway, disrupting oil shipments and pushing up global crude oil prices. In late March, following intense U.S. diplomatic efforts, Iran permitted some ships to pass through the chokepoint.

The possibility that Iran could maintain enhanced control over the narrow Strait may become one of the enduring legacies of the conflict.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Strait of Hormuz would “reopen one way or another” once the military operation concluded. “It will be open either because Iran agrees to comply with international law and cease blocking the commercial waterway, or because a coalition of nations from around the world and the region, with U.S. participation, will ensure it remains open,” Rubio said.

In a social media post on Monday, Trump indicated that “great progress” had been achieved toward ending the war, but cautioned that he was ready to completely destroy Iran’s “Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!)” if an agreement was not reached that required the Strait of Hormuz to be “immediately open for business.”

Leavitt indicated that Trump could accomplish these objectives by mid-April. “The Pentagon has consistently stated that Operation Epic Fury would take an estimated four to six weeks,” Leavitt said in the White House briefing room. “We’re on day 30 today—you can do the math.”