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US President Donald Trump said on March 31 that Washington is not yet ready to announce the end of the US military operation against Iran or efforts to restore normal shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "At some point I will. Not quite yet," Trump said in an interview with CBS News, as reported by TASS.

The statement comes amid an ongoing conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, targeting major cities including Tehran. According to TASS, the White House justified the attack by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran.

Coverage Comparison

Both TASS articles provide a consistent narrative of the conflict, detailing the initial strikes, Iran's retaliatory actions, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Coverage from the two articles overlaps significantly, but each focuses on different statements: one highlights Trump's comments on the operation, while the other emphasizes Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev's remarks about European energy purchases.

The first article, dated March 31, centers on Trump's interview with CBS News, where he said he is not ready to conclude the campaign. It also mentions a Wall Street Journal report that Trump told advisers he wants to end the campaign only if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to shipping.

The second article, dated April 2, covers Trump's subsequent address to the nation, in which he said Washington does not need the Strait of Hormuz and advised countries using it for oil imports to resolve safe passage issues themselves. Trump also suggested that countries could buy oil from the US.

Key Claims

The following key claims have been reported by TASS, which cites official statements and previous reports:
  • The US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28, striking major cities including Tehran. The White House said the action was in response to alleged missile and nuclear threats.
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation targeting sites in Israel. US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE were also hit, according to TASS.
  • Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other key Iranian leaders were killed in the joint US-Israeli attack, as reported by TASS.
  • Iranian authorities decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to ships linked to the US, Israel, and countries that supported the aggression against Iran. On March 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran had authorized passage for friendly countries, including Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan.
  • Trump said in the CBS interview that Washington is not yet ready to announce the end of the operation, and in a later address advised countries to resolve ship passage issues on their own.

Perspectives

US Government Perspective

According to TASS, President Trump expressed that the US is not yet ready to end the military operation, suggesting ongoing concerns about the Strait of Hormuz. He also indicated that the US does not need the strait and suggested countries could buy oil from the US.

Iranian Perspective

Iranian authorities, as reported by TASS, closed the Strait of Hormuz to ships linked to the US, Israel, and supportive countries, citing the need to respond to the aggression. They have authorized passage for friendly nations.

Russian Perspective

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, as reported by TASS, responded to Trump's address by urging UK and EU officials to acknowledge mistakes and resume purchasing Russian oil and gas, suggesting a de-escalation and rebuilding of Nord Stream 2.