US President Donald Trump stressed on Tuesday that the US military operation against Iran “will not last for a long time,” stressing that the United States will not need to remain in this confrontation for a long time.
In a statement to the New York Post, Trump explained: “We will not stay there for a long time. We will not have to stay there for a long time. There is still a lot of work to be done to suppress their offensive capabilities,” referring to the continuation of military operations aimed at weakening Iranian capabilities.
He also expressed his confidence that the Strait of Hormuz will open “automatically” after the end of the conflict, adding: “I believe it will open automatically,” considering that Iran “no longer has any power,” as he put it, and that countries that depend on the Strait “go and open it.”
On the other hand, Trump refrained from answering whether he intends to send a negotiating delegation that includes his deputy, J.D. Vance, or special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Tehran, and contented himself with continuing military pressure.
Trump’s statements come in the midst of escalating tension in the Middle East region, after the United States and Israel intensified their raids on targets inside Iran, including the capital, Tehran, since February 28, resulting in massive damage and civilian casualties, in addition to the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a number of leaders of the Revolutionary Guard and the army.
Iran responded by launching a series of missile attacks targeting Israeli territory, in addition to American military facilities in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, threatening an “unprecedented response.”
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most important strategic waterways in the world, as a large portion of global oil exports pass through it, making any escalation near it a source of concern for global markets.
