WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signaled a potential winding down of U.S. Military operations against Iran Friday, three weeks after launching a campaign targeting the nation’s military infrastructure, but insisted that securing the Strait of Hormuz is now the responsibility of other countries. The announcement, delivered via a post on his Truth Social platform, came as the vital shipping lane remains largely closed due to Iranian threats and as the Pentagon prepares to deploy additional Marines to the region.
“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 wrote. He added, “The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who apply it – The United States does not!”
The President outlined a series of objectives he claims are nearing completion: preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, dismantling its missile arsenal, crippling its navy and air force, and protecting U.S. Allies in the Gulf. Trump’s shifting articulation of war goals – previously including regime change – underscores the evolving nature of the conflict.
Trump’s comments followed a sharp rebuke of NATO allies earlier in the day, branding them “cowards” for declining to participate in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies. Iran has effectively closed the strait to commercial traffic, disrupting energy markets and raising concerns about a wider economic impact. According to NBC News, Trump had initially sought allied military support but abandoned that effort Tuesday after receiving a “chilly response.”
The shift in strategy comes after Trump reportedly considered more aggressive options, including a potential military occupation or blockade of Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal, to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Independent reported that Trump was weighing these options as recently as Friday, even proclaiming “US victory over the nation” despite ongoing Pentagon deployments and requests for additional funding.
The U.S. Leader’s decision to potentially scale back military involvement also coincides with the start of talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which officials describe as “off to a positive start.” The discussions are likely to focus on regional security and the economic implications of the conflict.
The White House, in a statement released alongside Trump’s social media post, defended the President’s approach. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that Trump “has long called attention to the disproportional dynamics that have been enabled by weak Presidents for decades — including the United States’ extensive financial support of NATO and unfair trading practices.” She added that the President would continue to pursue U.S. National security interests through “Operation Epic Fury, with or without NATO.”
The abrupt change in course regarding the Strait of Hormuz raises questions about the long-term security of the vital waterway and the willingness of other nations to assume responsibility for its protection. As of Friday evening, no other country had publicly committed to providing security for the strait, leaving its future uncertain.
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