Trump eyes quick end to Iran war as oil prices surge - reports
Rising energy costs and supply disruptions prompt the administration to weigh exit plans and market interventions
President Donald Trump signaled on Monday that he is considering a quick end to the war in Iran, amid mounting concerns over soaring oil prices and potential political fallout from a prolonged conflict, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some senior advisers have privately urged the president to articulate an exit plan.
Trump, however, stressed that the United States would continue military action if Iran persists in blocking the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. A senior administration official told the WSJ that Trump “won’t stop fighting until he can claim a satisfactory victory,” especially given the current U.S. military advantage. Trump has reportedly been surprised that Tehran has not yielded despite the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign.
According to the report, some advisers have encouraged the president to communicate that the U.S. has largely achieved its objectives to reassure domestic and international audiences. While the president’s conservative base continues to support the operation, officials worry that a drawn-out war could erode that support.
Oil prices have spiked to near $120 a barrel, disrupting roughly 20% of global supply as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a standstill. U.S. gas prices have risen sharply, with the national average increasing 51 cents per gallon over the past week. Analysts warn continued disruptions could further destabilize markets. “The oil market is massively short of supply,” said Neil Atkinson, former head of the International Energy Agency’s oil industry division, according to a CNN report.
According to the report, the Trump administration has explored a range of options to stabilize energy markets, including easing domestic regulations, offering insurance for tankers, potential military escorts through the Strait, and deploying the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, though officials remain hesitant. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said the surge is a “short-term change in oil prices, which will drop dramatically once the objectives of Operation Epic Fury are achieved.”
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Despite public reassurances from Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other officials that traffic through the strait would resume soon, behind-the-scenes discussions reportedly reflect urgency. Treasury, Energy, and Interior officials have reviewed measures to limit price increases, yet experts caution that such steps would likely have only a marginal effect given the scale of the disruption.
Trump administration officials emphasize that ending the war quickly remains the most certain way to stabilize global oil markets and U.S. gas prices. “The other options that the administration has, other than ending the war, are actually pretty limited,” Atkinson said. With no clear timeline for restoring shipping, the White House faces mounting pressure to balance military objectives with economic consequences.