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Trump says US considering 'winding down' military efforts on Iran, temporarily lifts sanction on Iranian oil
He predicted that it would take four to six weeks to complete the U.S. military objectives.
March 21, 2026, 12:18 PM
United States president Donald Trump said the U.S. is considering winding down their military efforts against Iran as they are getting close to meeting their objectives.
He also reiterated his claim that the U.S. doesn’t use the Strait of Hormuz, so other nations that do will have to “guard and police” it.
This was after the U.S.-Israel attack prompted Iran to fire upon ships in the strait, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s energy supply flows.
The U.S. will help “if asked” but that “shouldn’t be necessary”, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding it would be “an easy Military Operation” for those countries.
The war, which began on Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iranian targets, is now in its third full week.
4 to 6 weeks to achieve objectives
Following the president's post, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, also said in a post on X that "the President and the Pentagon predicted it would take approximately 4-6 weeks" to achieve the objectives to "end the threat of the Iranian terrorist regime".
"Tomorrow marks week 3 - and the US Armed Forces are doing an exceptional job," Leavitt wrote.
"Day by day, the Iranian Regime is being crippled, and their ability to threaten the United States and our allies is being significantly weakened," she added.
30-day sanctions waiver for Iranian oil
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on the same day that the Trump administration had issued a 30-day sanctions waiver for the purchase of Iranian oil at sea to ease energy supply pressures.
“By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding the amount of worldwide energy and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran,” Bessent said in a statement on X.
It is the third time the U.S. has temporarily waived sanctions in about two weeks, The Guardian reported.
The authorisation allows for the delivery and sale of Iranian crude oil and other petroleum products loaded onto ships before Mar. 20 and will last through Apr. 19.
Top photos from Donald Trump/Truth Social and PressTV/X
