President Donald Trump has signaled flexibility in winding down the ongoing war with Iran, prioritizing a swift resolution over the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump informed aides he is willing to conclude the U.S.-led military operation even if the vital waterway, through which about one-fifth of global oil passes, stays largely blocked by Iran. Trump and his team assessed that a dedicated mission to force the strait open would extend the conflict beyond the president's targeted four- to six-week timeline.

The war, now in its fifth week, began on February 28 when U.S. and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury with surprise airstrikes across Iran. The attacks killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials, targeted missile sites, air defenses, and nuclear facilities. Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz on March 1 and launching missiles at U.S. bases and allies in the Gulf.

U.S. strikes have destroyed over 150 Iranian naval vessels, degraded missile capabilities, and hit more than 11,000 targets. Casualties include thousands of Iranian military personnel and civilians, 15 U.S. soldiers killed, and dozens in Israel and the Gulf states. The White House outlined core objectives as dismantling Iran's navy, missile, and drone programs, weakening proxies like Hezbollah, and preventing nuclear advancement. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that while reopening the strait remains a goal, it is not essential to meeting these aims.

Despite the shift, Trump yesterday threatened to "obliterate" Iranian energy infrastructure, including oil wells and Kharg Island, if no deal emerges that includes immediate strait access. Iran rejected recent U.S. proposals via intermediaries as "unrealistic," while allowing limited ship passages, including 20 oil tankers recently.

The closure has spiked oil prices above $114 per barrel and pushed U.S. gasoline above $4 a gallon for the first time in years. Early today, Iran attacked a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai, damaging its hull but causing no spill.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a morning briefing, called the coming days "decisive," noting Iran's dwindling options and ongoing talks. "We have more and more options, and they have less," Hegseth said, adding reinforcements like the 82nd Airborne are arriving. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed communications through back channels.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the campaign has achieved over half its goals, including killing thousands of IRGC members and crippling Iran's arms industry. Trump has criticized European allies for limited support, telling Britain to "go get your own oil" from the Strait.

As negotiations intensify amid economic strain, the U.S. appears poised to declare victory on primary military fronts while deferring the Hormuz challenge to diplomacy or future action.