US war plans on Iran include exit options as timeline remains unclear - report
Officials say Trump has daily off-ramps and escalation choices as conflict widens
US military planners have developed options for President Donald Trump to end the war with Iran, even as the conflict continues to expand and no clear timeline has been set, according to six people familiar with the plans cited by NBC News.
The options, described as “off-ramps,” are built into daily war planning and provide the White House with potential pathways to de-escalate the conflict if Trump chooses to do so. At the same time, military plans also include scenarios for increasing pressure on Iran, the sources said.
The duration of the war remains uncertain. One source said the timeline “could change every day,” reflecting ongoing debate within the administration. Some aides are pushing for an exit strategy due to concerns over global economic instability, while others see an opportunity to weaken Iran’s regional influence.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration initially estimated a timeline of four to six weeks to achieve its military objectives. “The US military is doing a tremendous job, and this timeline remains true,” she said, adding that the operation will end when “the commander in chief determines the goals have been fully realized and the threats posed by Iran have been eliminated.”
Trump has offered varying public assessments of the conflict’s trajectory. He told Axios last week the war would “end soon,” while his defense secretary said it was “only just the beginning.” In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the conflict would end “when I feel it in my bones.”
The president also told NBC News that Iran was ready to end the war but that “the terms aren’t good enough yet.” He has publicly suggested that any resolution should include regime change, “unconditional surrender,” and the elimination of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Tehran did “not request a ceasefire” and would “continue this resistance without any hesitation,” emphasizing the gap between the two sides as the conflict continues.