Washington: US President Donald Trump has informed aides of his readiness to conclude the military campaign against Iran, even without immediately reopening the mostly closed Strait of Hormuz, and to address it later, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Monday citing administration officials.
Recent deliberations among Trump and his team revealed that attempts to clear the critical waterway would drag the confrontation well beyond the targeted 4-6 weeks. The president resolved to concentrate U.S. efforts on core objectives—neutering Iran’s naval capabilities and missile arsenals—before tapering operations and wielding diplomatic tools to compel Tehran to normalize commercial traffic. Failing that, officials indicated Washington would enlist European and Gulf allies to helm efforts to unblock the strait, the WSJ reported.
A prospective US withdrawal from direct combat could help lower regional tensions and heighten the prospects of fully reactivating the Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery whose ongoing blockage has sharply driven up global oil prices. Resuming robust outflows from the Middle East would significantly alleviate supply strains on major consuming nations such as India and China, while helping to temper broader anxieties about a potential slowdown in worldwide economic growth.
It is pertinent to mention that India’s exposure to Hormuz vulnerabilities looms large: nearly 50% of its crude oil, 60% of LPG, and 70% of LNG imports navigate this essential sea lane. Persistent interference could sustain elevated prices alongside prospective shortages and doubts over fuel availability.
In March — the war’s first complete month — daily traffic through the strait averaged only six vessels bidirectional via the tight Persian Gulf link to global waters, versus the normal 135. Figures reveal nearly 80% of outgoing oil tankers bore Iranian loads or originated from pro-Iran countries.
According to reports, Hormuz-area electronic disruptions have jammed ship trackers, with some disabling transponders to evade detection, eroding data precision. Nevertheless, trends affirm Tehran’s firmer grip. Almost all traffic now follows Iran-endorsed corridors along its coast, avoiding Omani waters, and typically only after clearance talks.
