Trump Prepared to End Iran War Despite Continued Blockade of Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump told advisers he is prepared to end the war with Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, the Wall Street Journal reported on March 31, citing administration officials, marking a potential shift in American war aims one month into the conflict. Trump and his advisers concluded in recent days that a military operation to reopen the strait would extend the conflict beyond the four-to-six week timeline originally assumed for the campaign. The president decided the United States should instead focus on achieving its core objectives — destroying Iran's naval fleet and missile assets — and then wind down active hostilities, relying on diplomatic pressure to restore free navigation. If diplomacy fails, Washington plans to press allies in Europe and the Persian Gulf to take the initiative on unblocking the waterway. Military options remain on the table, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, but are not currently a priority. The decision would effectively mean one condition from the American 15-point peace plan — guaranteed free passage through the strait — would go unmet in any near-term settlement.

Trump threatens Iran's power plants while signaling talks On Monday, Trump posted a stark threat on his Truth Social platform, warning that if a quick agreement with Iran is not reached and the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately opened, the United States would destroy all Iranian power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island — and possibly all desalination plants as well. „The United States of America is having serious talks with the NEW AND MUCH MORE REASONABLE REGIME (in Tehran) about ending our military actions in Iran” — Donald Trump via Polska Agencja Prasowa Trump added that any such destruction would be retaliation for American soldiers and civilians killed by Iran over 47 years of the current regime's rule. He had announced the previous week that he would suspend attacks on Iranian power plants until April 6. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump confirmed that Washington is in talks with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, describing him as the chief negotiator on Iran's side. Trump said within approximately one week it would become clear whether Ghalibaf is willing to cooperate with the United States. When asked about the new Iranian leadership, Trump said: „There has been a complete regime change, because the regime from the past is no longer there and we are dealing with a completely new group of people. And so far they have been much more reasonable” — Donald Trump via wnp.pl Trump also said the United States believes Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is probably alive but in an extremely bad condition.

Rubio cites regime cracks as Ghalibaf emerges as key figure Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on ABC News that changes are taking place in the highest decision-making circles of the Iranian regime, describing what he called internal fractures. „There are some internal cracks there and, in the end, I think that if there are people in Iran who now want to move in a different direction for their country, that would be great” — Marco Rubio via Polska Agencja Prasowa Rubio declined to name the Iranian officials Washington is negotiating with, citing security concerns for those individuals. He also said the United States is preparing contingency plans in case the new figures at the helm in Tehran do not share a more constructive vision. Ghalibaf and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are among the small group of senior Iranian officials who survived the nearly month-long campaign of Israeli-American airstrikes. According to reporting cited by wnp.pl, those killed since February 28 include former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Pakpur, and national security council secretary Ali Larijani. Reuters reported last week that Israel removed Araghchi and Ghalibaf from its target list after Pakistan, acting as mediator, requested their protection.

The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, with airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks on Israel, American military bases, and civilian infrastructure across several Persian Gulf states, including airports and energy facilities. Iran subsequently blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's crude oil normally flows. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026. Before the war began, Brent crude oil traded at approximately 72 dollars per barrel, according to Polska Agencja Prasowa.

Tanker struck near Dubai as oil prices surge past $115 An unidentified missile struck a tanker approximately 60 kilometers northwest of Dubai on March 30, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization reported. The tanker's security officer said the missile hit the starboard side, causing a fire, though the entire crew was reported safe. The strike added to market anxiety already elevated by the broader conflict. Brent crude oil rose to 115.84 dollars per barrel on Monday morning, compared to approximately 72 dollars before the war began on February 28, according to Polska Agencja Prasowa. 116 (USD per barrel) — Brent crude price after Trump's Kharg Island threat Jim Reid, director of global macroeconomic research at Deutsche Bank, was cited by CNN as saying investors remain concerned about further escalation. Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell nearly 5 percent on Monday, and South Korea's KOSPI dropped more than 4 percent. Finance ministers, energy ministers, and central bank heads of the G7 met in a remote format and pledged to take all necessary steps to ensure energy market stability. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on Saudi Arabia via the X platform to expel American troops from the country, arguing that Iran's military operations target hostile aggressors rather than Arab nations, and accusing the United States of using the region's population as human shields.

2026-02-27: 72, 2026-03-30: 115.84