After six months of Iran war, US goals have shifted. The Strait of Hormuz is now a top concern

The United States' goals for the ongoing war with Iran have evolved over the past six months, with the Strait of Hormuz now becoming a top priority. Initially, President Donald Trump had predicted the conflict would last four to five weeks, but six months later, the war still shows no end in sight. Despite Trump's repeated claims that the war has been won or a deal to resolve it was nearly complete, there is still no off-ramp.

A June memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war has not been followed through. U.S. stockpiles of key weapons have dwindled and the administration has shifted its focus to pressuring Iran economically instead of launching more strikes. One of the primary objectives now is reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which was not initially part of Trump's plans.

This waterway, once a vital shipping lane for about 20% of the world's oil, has been largely closed since the war began, causing fuel and fertilizer prices to soar and putting economic and political pressure on the U.S.