US President Donald Trump is considering declaring an end to the war with Iran while betting on sustained economic pressure to force Tehran to end its nuclear program or face collapse, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing senior US officials.
According to the newspaper, Trump discussed the possibility of formally declaring an end to the war with his top advisers and supports the move as part of an approach centered on intensified economic pressure against Tehran.
However, US military preparations in the region are pointing toward the possibility of a prolonged conflict. The Pentagon has extended the deployment of US forces in the Middle East until 2027, according to the report, raising the prospect that the conflict with Iran could continue into next year.
The Wall Street Journal noted that when the US launched its campaign against Iran six months ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had promised a swift and decisive strike intended to avoid a prolonged conflict.
His decision to extend troop deployments now indicates that the confrontation could last beyond the beginning of next year. US officials said the move is part of an open-ended military strategy designed to preserve Trump’s options in the conflict.
The continued deployment of 19 warships, air-defense units, fighter-jet squadrons and paratroopers across the region, however, is placing a significant burden on US forces and their families, while creating a growing maintenance workload that could take years to resolve.
