US war in Iran now focused on securing oil flow, official says

A Trump administration official defended the ongoing US military engagement in Iran, asserting that the mission has pivoted towards guaranteeing the unimpeded flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, appearing on ABC's "This Week," addressed criticism regarding the conflict's duration, acknowledging that the war, which commenced in February, has extended beyond initial projections for diplomatic breakthroughs and ceasefires.

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We did a pause to try to get an agreement with the Iranian people to allow oil to flow without them attacking it. They’ve proven unwilling to do that, and we’ve pivoted. Now, what we’re doing is assuring that that oil and gas and other products can flow through the strait of Hormuz with or without Iranian cooperation, and we’ve continued to degrade their offensive military capabilities.

Wright explained the strategic shift: "We did a pause to try to get an agreement with the Iranian people to allow oil to flow without them attacking it. They’ve proven unwilling to do that, and we’ve pivoted. Now, what we’re doing is assuring that that oil and gas and other products can flow through the strait of Hormuz with or without Iranian cooperation, and we’ve continued to degrade their offensive military capabilities."

Meanwhile, a prominent Democrat continued sharp criticism of the Trump administration's handling of the nearly five-month conflict. U.S. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia characterized the war as a "war of choice" initiated without an imminent threat. He argued that the administration has failed to achieve its stated goals, questioning progress on regime change and the removal of enriched uranium, which he noted remains in Iran.

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Regime change, how are we doing there? We got a worse crowd than before.

Warner further highlighted the lack of success in eliminating Iran's missile and drone capabilities, pointing to the ongoing conflict as evidence. "The continuation of this war, at this pace, will be a continuing disaster," he stated. The remarks came as the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes against Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) following the deaths of two American troops in Jordan, bringing the total American military fatalities in the conflict to 16.

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Matter of fact, it would take a minimum of 15,000 troops on the ground for a week to try to take these canisters, which are quite volatile, out of their bunker.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed the campaign would continue, stating the fallen service members' "sacrifice only stiffens our resolve." President Donald Trump also urged Congress to include Iran in pending Russia sanctions legislation, aiming to further weaken a memorandum of understanding aimed at resolving the conflict.

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Getting rid of Iran’s missile and drone capability – obviously, we’ve not been successful there.