President Donald Trump took to social media Friday and said that after decimating Iran’s armed forces and unaliving former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and virtually the entire Islamic Republic leadership, we are getting closer to the end of the conflict.
In fact, he wrote, it’s time to consider “winding down” Operation Epic Fury. Regarding the key shipping waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, the president said it’s not particularly an American problem, and the U.S. is not nearly as dependent on the oil that ships through the channel as Asian and European countries are.
Trump:
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2026
Although the administration often faces fierce criticism from pundits who say Trump hasn’t clearly defined the goals of the mission, the president laid out exactly what he’s after and how we’re close to realizing these aims:
We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran: (1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base. (3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry. (4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place. (5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.
MORE: Bessent Strikes at Iran’s Money Pipeline
As we reported, Trump was seriously irked when he tried to put together a coalition of allies to patrol and protect Hormuz, and supposed partners like the U.K., Italy, Germany, and Australia flatly turned him down.
Trump countered with the ace card: good luck with that, because we don’t depend on oil passing through the Strait nearly as much as you do.
It didn’t take long for some of those countries to quickly do a backflip:
BACKGROUND: Trump Calls Reluctant Allies’ Bluff on the Strait, Gets Big Response From NATO Chief
Trump Pressure Prevails: Allies Flip, Issue Statement on Strait of Hormuz
Trump reiterated that theme in his Truth Social post:
The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Next time the U.S. asks other nations to participate in actions that benefit them, as well as the whole world, they might want to think twice before summarily rejecting the notion.
The Iranian regime, what’s left of it, is hanging on by brutalizing its people and lobbing missiles at its neighbors. Two things are working against their survival, however: eventually, they will run out of missiles, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s financial crackdown is soon going to make life very difficult for them.
According to Trump, the operation could be closer to the end than the beginning. Let’s hope he’s right — a free and prosperous Iran would be a beautiful thing to behold.
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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