Donald Trump pulls his top general into the Oval Office over the Strait of Hormuz – the answer left him with zero good options

President Trump recently called his top general, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, into the Oval Office, frustrated that the Strait of Hormuz could not be reopened quickly. Caine’s answer was simple: even one Iranian soldier in a speedboat could fire a missile at a supertanker or plant a mine on its hull. With oil prices already near $100 a barrel and insurance costs rising sharply, any image of burning tankers is a win for Iran.

This meeting reflects the difficult choices Trump faces as the war against Iran enters its third week. He must decide whether to keep fighting or pull back from a conflict already causing military, diplomatic, and economic damage. The U.S. and Israel launched what has become the biggest Middle East war in nearly a quarter-century.

According to The New York Times, thirteen Americans have been killed in action, and more than 2,100 people have died overall since the war began, mostly in Iran. Continuing the fight raises financial costs and strains alliances, conflicting with Trump’s earlier pledge to avoid foreign entanglements.

Pulling back is also not a clean option, as key goals remain unfinished

While joint U.S.-Israel strikes have destroyed much of Iran’s missile arsenal, air defenses, and navy, and resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the theocracy remains in power. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and its militias are still active, and Iran still holds enough near-bomb-grade nuclear fuel for ten or more weapons.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “People are going to have to go and get it,” hinting at a ground operation Trump has considered but not yet ordered. The administration also underestimated Iran’s ability to disrupt global trade. 

The Strait of Hormuz is now nearly shut down, cutting off a major portion of global oil trade. Trump publicly appealed on social media for China, France, Japan, South Korea, and Britain to send naval forces to help, his first public admission that the U.S. may not have enough resources in the region alone.

The war has strained the U.S.-Israel partnership as well. Netanyahu appeared to sell Trump on the idea that killing Iran’s supreme leader would spark public protests against the government. Trump even told Iranians, “When we are finished, take over your government.” 

But only pro-government rallies have taken place in Tehran. Trump has since acknowledged that the Basij militias would likely kill any protesters. Meanwhile, Republicans have largely backed Trump’s military actions against Iran, with little sign of a party split.

There were also disagreements on military targets. Trump and U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper warned Israel against striking large oil tanks near Tehran. Netanyahu reportedly ignored this, and Israel struck the depots anyway, triggering large fires and a spike in oil prices, which led to more Iranian drone strikes on Saudi and UAE oil facilities.

Trump has also faced scrutiny over his shifting statements on the conflict from reporters pressing the administration on its messaging. As Trump prepares for a summit in China at the end of March, the war will dominate talks. 

He also faces two major decisions: whether to attack Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export port, and whether to seize nuclear storage facilities in Isfahan. Both carry serious risks, including handling radioactive material stored in deep tunnels. Trump said he has made no decisions yet, adding, “We’re nowhere near it.”