Trump in a corner seeks a way out: "Hormuz matters more to Europeans, let them patrol it." And he is considering a "downsizing" of operations.

The conflict with Iran may have reached a decisive turning point: Washington now considers the achievement of its military objectives to be imminent and is evaluating a "scaling back" of operations in the region.

The announcement did not come through the usual diplomatic channels, but directly from Donald Trump, who in a lengthy and detailed address on Truth Social outlined the state of the campaign.

According to the President, the extensive U.S. military effort in the Middle East, conducted against what he termed the "terrorist regime of Iran", is nearing conclusion.

In support of this claim, Trump precisely listed five strategic goals that the administration considers close to being fully achieved.

Ballistic arsenal: U.S. forces have aimed to completely degrade missile capabilities, launch systems, and everything related.

Military and logistical infrastructure: the goal is the total destruction of the Iranian defense industry.

Conventional forces: the elimination of Tehran's Navy and Air Force has been indicated, along with the main air defense systems.

Nuclear dossier: Trump reiterated the stance of not allowing Iran, even remotely, to possess nuclear capabilities, maintaining a posture that allows for rapid and decisive reaction to any unexpected developments.

Protection of regional partners: the commitment to ensure maximum protection for Middle Eastern allies was reaffirmed, with an explicit reference to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and other countries in the area.

The Strait of Hormuz and the change in approach

In the context of an Iranian threat deemed to be declining, the responsibilities for the security of global trade routes are also changing. Trump announced an imminent U.S. withdrawal from patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most sensitive maritime arteries in the world.

"Let it be patrolled by those who use it, not by us", he wrote, clarifying that the responsibility should be taken on by the countries that benefit from it.

"We don't need it; Europe, Korea, Japan, China, and many others do need it", he added, urging those nations to "make a small contribution in this regard", a concept also reiterated while speaking with reporters at the White House.

Washington, however, does not rule out support in case of necessity. The President has assured that, if requested, the United States "will assist these countries in their efforts related to Hormuz".

Help that, in Trump's view, could even prove unnecessary: once the Iranian threat is definitively neutralized, ensuring maritime security in that area will become for users of the strait "an easy military operation".