US Weighs Declaring Victory in Iran War to Exit Conflict

"Intelligence agencies are analyzing Iran's response"

The Trump administration is weighing a plan to unilaterally declare victory in the war with Iran and disengage from the conflict, Reuters reported on April 28. With the standoff dragging on and no clear exit strategy in sight, the White House is exploring ways to force an end to the crisis.

Citing US officials and other sources, Reuters said US intelligence agencies are analyzing how Iran would respond if Washington declared victory on its own. Those officials believe Iran would regard it as a victory for itself if the US then reduced troop levels in the Middle East. If US forces remain deployed, however, Iran would likely see the move as a negotiating tactic rather than a signal that the war is over. Reuters added that tougher options, such as a ground war on Iranian territory, have become far less feasible.

There are also signs the Trump administration is considering a prolonged blockade of Iran after concluding that its counter-blockade measures are working. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump recently instructed aides to pursue a long-term blockade of Iran. The newspaper described it as a strategy to squeeze Iran's finances and force it to abandon nuclear weapons, which it has long refused to give up.

The war's economic toll is also mounting in the US. Average US retail gasoline prices reached $4.18 a gallon, the highest level since August 2022.

Lee Sang-eun, Washington correspondent, Korea Economic Daily, selee@hankyung.com