<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> said he is considering winding down the war in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="" title="Iran"><span>Iran</span></a><span>, even as reports emerge of the Pentagon planning a ground invasion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a post on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-nato-cowards-middle-east-iran-strait-of-hormuz/0c7ff945-0e3d-4c1f-afb2-ccb5c8e1d5b6" rel="" target="" title="Truth Social"><span>Truth Social</span></a><span> this morning, Trump detailed his achievements since starting the war three weeks ago.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran," he said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/does-australia-have-another-petrol-would-we-run-out-of-fuel-oil-supply-iran-war-news/1f4af25b-2f5a-43d3-8a83-dcc919e12e28" rel="" target="" title="How the war in Iran is impacting Australia's oil supply"><strong><span>How the war in Iran is impacting Australia's oil supply</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran's Defense Industrial Base. (3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry. (4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place. (5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others. The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn't be necessary once Iran's threat is eradicated. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-middle-east-war-with-iran-winding-down-plans-strait-of-hormuz/6ff29431-b12f-4e3a-8da6-86ce2011bac0" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But his claims come as Iran's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mojtaba-khamenei-son-of-irans-supreme-leader-has-been-named-his-successor-iranian-state-tv-says/2af18a14-e341-4b8d-9e30-e3382d346e47"><span>Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei</span></a><span> declared victory in his own statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-iran-attacks-who-is-reza-pahlavi-shah-replacement-leader-ayatollah-khamenei-who-will-lead-iran-now/8d5b6cb3-59bf-4345-a66c-56a869ccd420" target="" title="Son of ousted king positions himself to take over in Iran"><strong><span>Son of ousted king positions himself to take over in Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The enemy has been defeated," Khamenei said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(Iranians have) dealt him a dizzying blow so that he now starts uttering contradictory words and nonsense."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump's purported consideration of winding down the war comes at the same time as reports of an invasion being planned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CBS News reports the Pentagon has made </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-kharg-island-ground-troops-invasion-of-iran-usa-news/765b7562-cb23-436c-b7fa-b8a0acd616ff" rel="" target="" title="detailed plans for a ground invasion of Iran"><span>detailed plans for a ground invasion of Iran</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Trump denied the plans in an obtuse way.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No, I'm not putting troops anywhere," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-nato-cowards-middle-east-iran-strait-of-hormuz/0c7ff945-0e3d-4c1f-afb2-ccb5c8e1d5b6" target="" title="Donald Trump lashes out at NATO 'cowards' for not joining war"><strong><span>Donald Trump lashes out at NATO 'cowards' for not joining war</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He is also </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-kharg-island-ground-troops-invasion-of-iran-usa-news/765b7562-cb23-436c-b7fa-b8a0acd616ff" rel="" target="" title="considering using ground troops"><span>considering using ground troops</span></a><span> to occupy </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/kharg-island-military-strike-donald-trump-us-middle-east-iran-war-latest-news/50913729-78f2-4826-badf-459faff01eec"><span>Iran's strategically valuable Kharg Island</span></a><span>, according to reports.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/20/iran-invasion-kharg-island-strait-hormuz"><span>Axios</span></a><span> cited four sources as saying the Trump Administration was considering a blockade of the island or even landing troops there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When questioned about this outside the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="White House"><span>White House</span></a><span>, Trump was coy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I may have a plan, I may not," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's certainly a place that people are talking about. But I can't tell you that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-usa-war-updates-donald-trump-allies-strait-of-hormuz-world-news/c9355a10-7f90-4327-b568-2fb9f8e0f0ec"><strong><span>Trump berates allies as he finds himself alone on Iran war</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because Iran's coastline is too shallow for massive tankers, 90 per cent of Iran's oil is exported via Kharg Island.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US Central Command confirmed today that </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-nato-cowards-middle-east-iran-strait-of-hormuz/0c7ff945-0e3d-4c1f-afb2-ccb5c8e1d5b6"><span>232 American service members</span></a><span> have been injured since the war began three weeks ago.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Of those, ten are seriously wounded, and 207 have been able to return to duty.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-kharg-island-ground-troops-invasion-of-iran-usa-news/765b7562-cb23-436c-b7fa-b8a0acd616ff" rel="" target="" title="Trump considering ground invasion of critical Iranian island: reports"><strong><span>Trump considering ground invasion of critical Iranian island: reports</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>