Trump leaning toward declaring end of war with Iran, WSJ reports

WASHINGTON, United States — President Donald Trump is moving toward formally declaring an end to the war with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials. According to the paper, Trump has been weighing the options with senior advisers, basing any decision to end the war on the view that continued economic pressure could force Iran to resolve its nuclear program or bring about the collapse of the regime. In earlier remarks, Trump said the United States had destroyed much of Iran's military capacity and described victory as a matter of time. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is also working to extend the deployments of American forces in the region through 2027, a step the Journal said signals that military options remain open. The paper reported that around 50,000 U.S. troops, 19 warships, two aircraft carriers and 13 destroyers equipped with guided missiles are deployed in the region. The war between the United States and Iran began in February 2026, with mutual strikes around the Strait of Hormuz and escalating tensions leaving Washington weighing both an end to the conflict and the continuation of its military presence at the same time.