President Donald Trump said Friday that the conflict with Iran is nearing its conclusion, signaling that U.S. military objectives in the region are close to being achieved. “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president outlined several goals he said are nearing completion, including degrading Iran’s missile systems, dismantling its defense production capabilities, eliminating its Navy and Air Force, preventing the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons, and protecting allied nations, The Epoch Times reported.
Trump said future responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz should fall to allied nations that rely on the vital shipping lane. “The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!” Trump wrote. “If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated,” he said.
The president described maintaining security in the strait as manageable, calling it “an easy military operation.” Speaking at the White House, Trump said Operation Epic Fury, launched Feb. 28, has significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
“We’re doing extremely well in Iran,” Trump said. “They have no Navy anymore … and we have the greatest Navy anywhere in the world, and it’s not even close.”
Trump said joint U.S. and Israeli operations have severely degraded Iran’s naval, air, and air defense systems. He also claimed leadership disruptions within Iran’s government.
“Their leaders are all gone,” Trump said. “The next set of leaders are all gone, and the next set of leaders are mostly gone, and now nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore.”
Later Friday, Trump told reporters that Iran is “from a military standpoint … finished,” but warned that activity in the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt global shipping. He called securing the waterway a “simple military maneuver” but said additional support from allies is needed. Trump said it “would be nice” for countries that depend on the strait to contribute more resources.
Several nations signaled support for securing the route following Trump’s call for broader involvement. Countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Canada indicated they are prepared to assist in ensuring safe passage through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, with roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passing through it. Disruptions have slowed commercial traffic and driven up energy prices.
Brent crude rose to approximately $112 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate reached about $97 per barrel. U.S. gas prices have climbed to nearly $4 per gallon on average nationwide.
Iran has responded to the targeting of its energy sector by Israel with strikes on oil and natural gas facilities throughout the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, according to reports overnight.
Israel carried out a large-scale strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, the world’s largest, on Wednesday, prompting retaliatory actions from Tehran targeting key energy infrastructure across Gulf Arab states.
The developments have raised concerns about global energy markets, as facilities like South Pars — along with the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz — play a major role in determining worldwide prices for oil, gas and other goods. Prices rose early Thursday, and economists warned the disruption could trigger broader economic impacts, including higher costs and potential supply shortages affecting consumers globally, NBC News reported.
Amid growing tensions and concern from U.S. allies in the Gulf and Europe, President Donald Trump said Israel would not carry out additional strikes on the gas field unless Iran launched further attacks on U.S. partner Qatar. Trump added on his Truth Social account that if such an attack occurred, the United States would “massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field.”