Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the Iran war, Trump reportedly willing to end the war even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed

Several Trump aides have reportedly told the Wall Street Journal the US President is privately suggesting he’s willing to end the war in Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut down. 

Petrol prices in the USA are at a four-year high with warnings they will go significantly higher, and “people are feeling it”, US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking. 

Trump has threatened to destroy Iran's water and energy infrastructure if a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is not done soon, while the Gulf states are urging him to press on with the US military operation, Arnold said. 

Those states warn if Iran gets to control the flow of oil, there will soon be ripple effects in many other areas including spiralling food and transport costs, Arnold said. 

But a ground war would be risky, and a “huge liability” for Donald Trump, whose favourability numbers have hit a historic low of 33% in the latest opinion poll. 

Trump posted to Truth Social overnight telling other countries they should reopen the Strait of Hormuz themselves, saying “Go get your own oil”. That sentiment was echoed in a briefing from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the US used the international waterway “dramatically less than most”. 

“The world ought to pay attention and be prepared to stand up. President Trump's been willing to do the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world,” Hegseth said. 

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