Trump told aides he was willing to end the war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump is considering "pulling troops back" without resolving the issue of the Strait of Hormuz blockade. According to CCTV reporters on March 30 local time, U.S. officials disclosed that President Trump told his aides he is willing to end military operations against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. It is reported that U.S. government officials assess that forcibly reopening the waterway would extend military operations beyond the initial 4 to 6 week timeframe. Based on this, Trump has decided to gradually end the current military action once key objectives—such as weakening Iran’s navy and missile capabilities—are achieved. At the same time, he will turn to using diplomatic pressure to promote the resumption of shipping through Iran. If diplomatic methods fail, Washington will push Europe and Gulf allies to lead actions to reopen the strait. After this news was released, U.S. stock futures turned higher, S&P 500 futures rose 0.2%, Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.1%. International oil prices briefly fell, WTI’s gains narrowed to less than 1%. Trump’s Contradictory Position Latest U.S. media reports reveal that over the past month, Trump has sent conflicting signals on the strait issue multiple times. He threatened that if the strait was not reopened within the deadline, he would bomb Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure. But in other instances, he downplayed the importance of the strait to the U.S., calling its blockade "a problem other countries need to solve." On Monday, Trump said on social media that Iran’s leadership had become "more rational," and immediately threatened that if the Strait of Hormuz was not "open for business" right away, he would target Iran’s power plants, oil fields, and the oil export hub Kharg Island. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that the U.S. is "working toward" restoring normal operation of the strait, but did not include it among core military objectives such as striking Iran’s navy, missiles, defense industry, or nuclear capabilities. Military Deployment and Diplomacy In Parallel Despite Trump’s inclination to end the war quickly, U.S. military deployment continues to advance. Media reports say the USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit entered the region last weekend; Trump also ordered some forces from the 82nd Airborne Division to be deployed and is considering sending about 10,000 more ground troops to the Middle East. Meanwhile, Trump has described this war as a "short operation" and "a pleasant stay," but he is also reportedly weighing a complex and high-risk operation—seizing Iran’s uranium stockpile. Rich Goldberg, a former National Security Council official under Trump, now at the Washington think tank "Foundation for Defense of Democracies," believes that striking Iran’s military capabilities and reopening the strait are not contradictory, but sequential. "Once those strategic goals are achieved, naturally the focus shifts to the Strait of Hormuz, because by then you’ve inflicted major damage on external threats, and can redeploy military resources to that task." Divergence Among Allies and Officials U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said in an interview with Al Jazeera on Monday that the current military operation will be completed within several weeks. "At that time we will face the problem of the Strait of Hormuz, to be decided by Iran," Rubio said, "or by a multinational coalition from around the world and the region, with U.S. involvement, ensuring the strait is open in some manner." Treasury Secretary Beisenth said in a Fox News interview the option of U.S. or multinational escorts is on the table, but his remarks did not reflect any urgency to reopen the strait immediately. "Market supply is ample, increasingly more ships pass through every day as countries are making separate agreements with Iran," Beisenth said. "But as time goes on, the U.S. will regain control of the strait, whether through U.S. or multinational escorts, freedom of navigation will be guaranteed." However, Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert at the Brookings Institution, sharply criticized this. She characterized ending military action before reopening the strait as "incredibly irresponsible," warning: "The energy market is essentially global, and the U.S. cannot isolate itself from the economic losses that have already occurred—and will escalate exponentially if the strait remains blocked." The Economic Cost of the Strait Blockade The Strait of Hormuz is a core chokepoint for global energy trade. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 20% of the world’s oil supply is transported through the strait; in 2024, 84% of the crude oil and 83% of the liquefied natural gas transported through it are destined for the Asian market. After Iran deployed sea mines and threatened to strike oil tankers, passing ships sharply decreased. Industrial inputs like fertilizer and helium, which depend on transport through this strait, are now in short supply, affecting global food production and chip manufacturing. This month, nearly 40 countries, including the UK, France, and Canada, issued a joint statement saying they are "prepared to contribute to ensuring safe passage through the strait." Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market involves risk; investment needs caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account individual users’ unique investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article suit their specific circumstances. Invest accordingly at your own risk.