Trump admin believes it will have to end Iran war with Strait of Hormuz still closed | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump and his administration increasingly believe that they can’t promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a prerequisite to declaring “mission accomplished” in the war with Iran, sources familiar with the discussions tell CNN. Inside the White House, many top officials recognize that reopening the oil chokepoint controlled by Tehran is a critical goal — not only for ending the war but also for bringing down soaring oil and gas prices, which are quickly shaping up to be a key liability for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections. But as they stare down Trump’s self-imposed four- to six-week deadline for ending the war, top administration officials have privately acknowledged that they can’t both achieve their military objectives quickly and vow to reopen the strait within the same timeline, according to the sources familiar with those talks. The officials and many in the intelligence community have estimated that it could take weeks, if not months, to return the strait to full operational status. About 20% of the world’s oil supply typically flows through the waterway. Instead, Trump has communicated publicly, as well as to aides and alli