On March 31, the Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. government officials revealed President Trump has indicated to his aides that he is willing to end military actions against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. This move could extend Tehran's firm control over the waterway and leave the complex task of reopening the strait for later. Recently, Trump and his aides assessed that reopening this crucial passage would push the conflict beyond the four to six-week timeline he has set. Trump has decided that the U.S. should achieve the primary goal of weakening Iran's navy and missile stockpiles while gradually ending current hostilities and applying diplomatic pressure on Iran to restore free trade. Officials stated that if this approach fails, Washington will pressure its European and Gulf allies to lead efforts to reopen the strait. They noted that Trump could also opt for a military solution, but this is not his current priority.