Trump Considers Declaring End of War, Hints at Iranian Uprising
While the Wall Street Journal revealed that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is quietly working to extend the deployment of American forces in the Middle East through 2027, signaling Washington’s preparedness for the possibility of a prolonged conflict with Iran, it also noted that President Donald Trump is privately discussing with his top aides the option of declaring the end of the war and relying more heavily on economic pressure to force Tehran to make concessions.
On the night of Wednesday into Thursday, the U.S. president signaled support for a popular movement against the Iranian leadership, stating that the military would remain ready to launch further strikes “at any time we want,” similar to actions taken earlier this week following Iran’s attempt to lay new mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that the new military campaign would not last long.
“We see everything they do. They can’t even go to the bathroom without us seeing them,” he added.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “I like our position now much better, with near-total control of the Strait of Hormuz and their economy almost completely collapsed. They are only prolonging the inevitable. When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?”
Later, Trump posted on his platform that he ruled out U.S. participation in a “new war,” while simultaneously affirming that Washington possesses “sufficient” ammunition even in the event of a new conflict.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that the comprehensive U.S. approach in the region includes the deployment of 19 warships, air defense units, fighter squadrons, and paratroopers, while the military maintains approximately 50,000 troops in the area, partly to give the president “flexibility” in determining his next steps.
Current missions include intercepting Iranian missiles, providing cover for commercial ships in the Hormuz Strait, and imposing a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, with forces remaining ready to launch broader offensive attacks if Trump decides to escalate.
The newspaper quoted a Navy official stating that the fleet deployed in Middle Eastern waters includes two aircraft carriers and 13 guided-missile destroyers.
U.S. officials told the newspaper that Trump is conducting private discussions with his top aides regarding whether to declare the end of the war, noting that the president has expressed support for the idea.
The officials added that Trump has also told his aides he believes that continuing economic pressure will ultimately force Tehran either to dismantle its nuclear program or collapse.
Economically, three senior Iranian sources told Reuters that the U.S. campaign aimed at strangling the economy by restricting oil exports and halting sanctions evasion has become increasingly burdensome for Tehran.
They explained that although clerical rulers have managed to circumvent sanctions for decades, the latest U.S. measures have placed them in a much more sensitive position, leaving them with few channels to secure foreign currency or purchase goods.
One Iranian source stated that the country has only enough gasoline reserves to last for two additional months, which must be imported despite domestic oil production due to limited refining capacity.
The sources added that these efforts have made sanctions-evasion networks, such as shell companies, unregistered oil tankers, and smuggling, prohibitively expensive.
