At the same time, US officials told the WSJ that US President Donald Trump has privately discussed with senior aides whether he should declare the Iran war over, arguing that sustained economic pressure could eventually compel Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program or bring about the collapse of the regime.
“I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing,” Trump wrote on social media.
What Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth originally presented as a short, decisive military effort has grown exponentially, with Washington now maintaining about 50,000 troops in the region, along with 19 warships, fighter squadrons, air-defense units, and paratroopers, according to the report.
