US President Donald Trump is weighing a quicker end to the US military campaign in Iran, while some of his advisers are privately urging him to prepare an exit strategy amid rising oil prices and fears of domestic political backlash, according to a Monday Wall Street Journal report.
Speaking in Florida on Monday, Trump said the operation was “way ahead of schedule” and suggested it could be over “very soon.”
The report said Trump is trying to balance a show of military success with pressure to avoid a drawn-out war that could deepen economic strain and weaken support among voters.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected that account, saying Trump’s advisers remained focused on ensuring Operation Epic Fury was a success and that only the president would decide when the campaign ends.
Trump did not offer a firm timeline for ending the operation and appeared to downplay the prospect of broader US involvement aimed at forcing regime change in Tehran.
Asked about support for Iranians who have risen up against the regime, he said the United States wanted a system that could bring “many years of peace,” but added that otherwise “we might as well get it over with right now.”
He also said he was disappointed by the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader, describing it as a sign that Tehran was not backing down. The leadership change has been widely seen as further evidence that Iran intends to maintain a hard-line position during the conflict.
Trump’s messaging has remained mixed. After previously calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” he said Monday he was “nowhere near” ordering US ground troops into the country, but also warned that Washington could intensify its campaign if Iran continued to threaten oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the report, some Trump advisers have encouraged him to argue that the military has already achieved most of its objectives and to begin shaping a public case for disengagement. Their concern has grown as oil prices surged and public polling showed most Americans opposed the war.
Economic pressure caused oil price spike
The economic pressure has become an increasingly important factor in the administration’s calculations, with concerns that a prolonged conflict could push oil above $100 a barrel and further raise fuel and consumer costs.
Economic adviser Stephen Moore told WSJ that higher energy prices would worsen affordability pressures across the US economy.
The report added that nervous Republicans had been discussing the possible political impact of the war ahead of the midterm elections. Trump’s team has also concluded that it needs a more aggressive communications strategy to justify the campaign as consumers face higher gasoline prices.
Trump said the US could lift oil-related sanctions on some countries to help reduce prices, though he did not specify which states might benefit. He also said the United States would provide risk insurance for tankers in the region and escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.
At the same time, administration officials told the Journal that a full US withdrawal may be difficult as long as Iran continues attacks on regional states and Israel keeps striking Iranian targets. That leaves Trump trying to show military momentum while also containing the economic and political costs of a longer war.
Trump also addressed a deadly missile strike on a school in Minab, saying the matter was under investigation after initially blaming Tehran. Reports that a US Tomahawk missile may have been responsible have added to scrutiny over the civilian toll of the fighting.
The Trump administration says its main objective remains preventing Iran from threatening the United States and its regional allies by degrading its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.
Since the fighting began on February 28, seven US servicemembers have been killed, eight have been seriously wounded, and more than 36,000 Americans have returned to the United States from the region.