Breaking: Trump to End Iran War Without Opening Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has told his aides that he is willing to end the Iran war. Even if the Strait of Hormuz, the route for 20% of global oil and 25% of the world’s gas, remains closed.

This was reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing administration officials, published on Tuesday (31/3/2026). Trump and his aides are said to believe that “military operations to open the Strait of Hormuz would push the Iran conflict beyond the target timeframe of four to six weeks that has been set.

“The President has military options, but that is not his priority,” administration officials told the WSJ, as reported by various AFP and Reuters pages.

The report also states that Trump has decided that “the US must achieve its goal of crippling Iran’s navy and missiles”. Then, it adds, “reducing hostilities while applying diplomatic pressure to Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz”.

“If that does not work, Washington will push European and Gulf allies to take over the reopening of the strait,” the report states again.

This report has caused oil prices to fall. Brent crude softened by 1.3% to US$106.04 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fell 0.7% to US$102.22 per barrel.

Several Asian exchanges also rose thanks to this report. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rose 0.5% to 24,869.71, and the Shanghai Composite index rose 0.3% to 3,935.05.

It should be noted that the report emerged after Trump threatened on Monday to destroy Kharg Island - where most of Iran’s crude oil is located - if a peace agreement is not reached. He said US forces would destroy “all power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalination plants)”, in his tweet.

However, on the same day, he also stated that officials were talking to a “more reasonable regime” in Tehran. Iran denied any talks and accused the President of lying about negotiations as a cover while preparing for a ground invasion.

Reports of negotiations were also revealed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He expressed hope for cooperation with elements within the Iranian government.

Previously, market experts warned that a US ground operation or broader Iranian retaliation could drive oil prices to levels not seen since July 2008. At that time, Brent nearly reached US$150 per barrel.