Three weeks after the war began between the United States/Israel and Iran, President Donald Trump indicated a possible military pull‑back. “We are close to achieving our objectives while considering withdrawing our extensive military efforts in the Middle East against the terrorist regime in Iran” he wrote on Friday on his Truth Social platform.
Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz should be “guarded and controlled by other nations that use it – the United States does not do that”. He added that he could help those countries in the Strait, but that such assistance would become unnecessary once the threat from Iran is removed, describing the operation for them as “a simple military operation”.
He outlined several targets he viewed as nearly achieved: weakening Iran’s rocket capabilities and launch sites, dismantling its weapons industry, disabling its navy and air force-including air‑defense systems-and ensuring Iran can never acquire nuclear capabilities. Trump said the U.S. would “respond quickly and decisively” if a nuclear threat emerged.
He listed U.S. allies that would receive particular protection in the Middle East: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.
