US officials believe the conflict could last from several days to weeks, depending on whether Iran continues attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported.
The White House is preparing for what could turn into a multi-day or even multi-week exchange of fire with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, US officials told Axios on Thursday. The duration and intensity of the new campaign depend entirely on Iran's upcoming actions, according to US officials who spoke with Axios. They noted that the current escalation could last anywhere from one day to a month, depending on whether Iran continues its attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We're going to slap them a bit so they understand we're not f***ing around," One official said, referring to recent US strikes on Iranian targets US officials also told Axios that the White House believes it has more room to escalate because hundreds of oil tankers have successfully navigated through the Gulf via the strait in recent weeks. “That has eased concerns within the administration that a renewed clash would immediately trigger a major oil price spike,” the officials said.
“Iran saw its leverage in Hormuz slipping as hundreds of ships transited through the southern route close to the Omani coast,” they added. Another US official source claimed that the current escalation stems from frustration among more radical members of Iran’s fractured leadership, who believe the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has not delivered any real benefits for Tehran. (Read More)
