According to Axios, citing U.S. officials, President Donald Trump's administration is preparing for a confrontation that could last days or even weeks with Iran. This comes as Washington's focus shifts from targeting Iran's nuclear and missile programs to an open battle over the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime corridor for global energy trade.
The report indicates that the White House considers the provisional ceasefire, established under a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, effectively ended following recent attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. This development prompted the U.S. to launch a second wave of military strikes within Iran.
An American official told the site that the duration of the escalation would fully depend on Iran's next move, clarifying that the confrontation could last a day or two, a week, or even a month if Tehran continues targeting shipping in the strait.
The report mentions that U.S. strikes have expanded in recent hours to include targets linked to Iran's infrastructure, such as transportation facilities, marking the first such action in months. This strategy aims to reduce Tehran's ability to threaten navigation.
Simultaneously, Trump declared the ceasefire "over," asserting that the latest strikes were in response to attacks on commercial ships. He also noted that Iranian officials have contacted Washington in pursuit of a new agreement.
However, the U.S. president expressed skepticism about any understanding with Tehran, stating that Iranians "want a deal," though he is uncertain about their commitment to any future agreement.
Per Axios, keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping has become the primary goal of the U.S. administration, with the White House believing that maintaining global energy movement now takes precedence over other wartime objectives.
Conversely, Iran asserts its sovereign right over the strait’s maritime regulation and insists that any shipping arrangements must comply with its conditions, while Iranian officials warned that continued U.S. strikes would be met with a new military response.
The report adds that the U.S. administration perceives the sustained flow of hundreds of oil tankers through the strait over recent weeks as providing greater leverage for escalation, as fears of a sharp and immediate spike in oil prices have diminished, encouraging continued military pressure on Tehran.
Axios concludes that the confrontation between Washington and Tehran has entered a new phase, focused not on Iran's nuclear program but on the control over the future of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz—a factor that could shape the conflict's trajectory in the near term.