US Media: Trump Plans to Announce Iran War "Victory Conclusion," May Handover Hormuz Strait Issue to NATO
BlockBeats News, April 2nd. According to the American media Politico citing multiple sources, President Trump of the United States plans to announce during primetime national address that all objectives of the military action against Iran have been achieved, and the war is nearing its end.
The report states that Trump will declare victory in his address and pave the way for the gradual U.S. withdrawal from the conflict. At the same time, he intends to blame NATO allies for the current most thorny issue—the blocked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—and demand that European and Gulf countries take on the responsibility for subsequent security.
Steve Bannon, former Chief Strategist to Trump, said Trump will emphasize that "short-term military goals have been achieved" and may push for a ceasefire in the coming weeks, while making it clear that the issue of the strait "will no longer be resolved under U.S. leadership."
The report points out that Iran is still restricting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, driving international oil prices above $100 per barrel. Against this backdrop, the Trump administration is seeking a "dignified exit" path to relieve domestic polling pressure and energy market concerns.
Meanwhile, Trump has recently been pressuring NATO continuously and threatening to reassess the U.S. role in NATO, even not ruling out withdrawing from the military alliance. White House officials said Trump is "extremely dissatisfied" with some European countries' refusal to provide bases and airspace support for the U.S. military.
Although more than 20 countries have expressed willingness to participate in post-war efforts to secure the strait, many European countries are cautious about direct involvement in the conflict. Analysts believe that Trump's move is both about pressuring allies and attempting to define the "endgame narrative" for this round of the Middle East conflict at both the military and political levels.
