President Trump informed CBS News on Tuesday morning that he is not yet prepared to cease U.S. efforts aimed at compelling Iran to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz. This statement follows a previous post on Truth Social suggesting that allied nations should take responsibility for the waterway themselves.

U.S. Stance on Strait of Hormuz Reopening

In a phone conversation, Mr. Trump expressed ongoing frustration that key allies, including the United Kingdom, have not deployed military assets to support the ongoing U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran. However, he confirmed that American forces will remain engaged in the effort for the immediate future.

"At some point I will, not quite yet," Mr. Trump stated. He emphasized that other countries must become involved and manage the situation. He added, "Iran has been decimated, but they're going to have to come in and do their own work."

Downplaying the Current Threat Level

The President reiterated his assertion that despite current Iranian strikes targeting ships and infrastructure in Persian Gulf nations, there is "no real threat" in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is vital, facilitating the transit of approximately 20% of the world's oil supplies.

Mr. Trump suggested that if other nations face difficulties securing oil supplies, they should actively retrieve it themselves. He criticized allies for their lack of support, noting, "NATO is terrible, and they're all terrible." He urged them, "So if they want oil, come up and grab it."

Timeline and Assessment of Military Success

When questioned about the conclusion of the U.S. military operation, Mr. Trump offered no definitive end date but predicted, "It won't be long." He further claimed the operation is ahead of schedule, stating, "I would say we are two weeks ahead of schedule."

The conflict was initially projected by Mr. Trump to last between "4 to 6 weeks," and the current period marks week five of that engagement. He asserted that Iran's military capabilities have been severely diminished, stating they have "no military might anymore. They are down on everything they had. They're a mess."

Regime Change Achieved

Mr. Trump declared that the objectives have been met, stating, "We've done our job." He believes it will take Iran a decade to recover from the impact. He claimed a "total regime change" has occurred, resulting in leaders who are "more reasonable than anyone has ever heard of before."

Nuclear Objectives Unspecified

A primary goal of the initial operation was to prevent Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons. Mr. Trump avoided specifying whether victory could be declared without removing Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, a task military analysts deem highly risky.

Regarding the enriched uranium, he commented, "I don't I even think about it." He referenced the U.S.-Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities last June, calling the result "obliteration." He concluded that the material is so deeply secured that even without the war, Iran has been unable to access it, making the situation "pretty safe."