US President Donald Trump has reportedly told aides he is willing to end the US military campaign against Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The move could extend Tehran's control over the crucial waterway and leave a complex operation to reopen it for a later stage.
Trump and his advisers assessed that any mission to force open the chokepoint would stretch the conflict beyond his preferred timeline of four to six weeks.
Instead, he has decided the US should focus on achieving its primary objectives, weakening Iran's navy and reducing its missile stockpiles, before winding down active hostilities.
The administration would then shift to diplomatic pressure on Tehran to restore the free flow of trade, the report added.
Washington is expected to push allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead in reopening the strait if diplomatic efforts fail.
