NextFin News - U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled on Wednesday that the American military campaign in Iran is nearing its conclusion, echoing recent assertions by U.S. President Trump that the mission is "almost accomplished." Speaking to reporters, Johnson indicated that the intensive phase of the operation, which began on February 28, 2026, has achieved its primary objectives and could wrap up "very soon." The statement comes as the administration faces mounting pressure over the economic and geopolitical costs of a conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and strained traditional alliances.
The three-week campaign, launched as a joint operation with Israel, saw an immediate and dramatic escalation with the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on its opening day. Since then, the conflict has evolved into a high-stakes war of attrition. While the U.S. military has successfully targeted key infrastructure, including the recent strike near the Bushehr nuclear plant, the strategic landscape remains volatile. Tehran’s response—specifically the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—has introduced a friction point that Johnson admitted has "slightly dragged out" the original timeline. The strait is a vital artery for global oil, and its blockage has sent shockwaves through energy exchanges, complicating the exit strategy for a president who campaigned on ending "foreign entanglements."
Financial analysts estimate the daily cost of the operation at approximately $900 million, a figure that Johnson noted is difficult to finalize while active combat continues. This fiscal burden is becoming a political liability. Recent polling suggests a sharp decline in U.S. President Trump’s approval ratings as the American public grapples with the reality of another protracted Middle Eastern engagement. The administration’s attempt to form a "coalition of the willing" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was met with a cold reception from NATO allies, leaving Washington to shoulder the bulk of the operational and financial weight alone.
The transition of power in Tehran to Mojtaba Khamenei has not led to the immediate collapse of the clerical regime as some hawks in Washington had predicted. Instead, Iran has deepened its intelligence ties with Moscow, receiving critical data on U.S. base locations and drone vulnerabilities. This burgeoning "axis of convenience" suggests that while the formal U.S. mission may conclude, the regional instability it has triggered will persist. The Speaker’s optimism reflects a desire to pivot away from the front lines before the domestic political cost becomes untenable, yet the tactical reality on the ground—marked by Iranian strikes on U.S. regional assets and a defiant blockade—suggests that "finishing" the war may be more complex than declaring it over.
U.S. President Trump’s recent shift in rhetoric, including his stated reluctance to continue strikes on Iranian energy sites following Israel’s attack on a major gas field, points to an administration searching for an off-ramp. The mission’s end, as envisioned by the House Speaker, appears less like a total victory and more like a strategic withdrawal aimed at capping losses. As the U.S. prepares to transition its role, the focus shifts to whether the regional power vacuum will be filled by a reorganized Iranian leadership or a permanent Israeli security presence, either of which would redefine the Middle East for a generation.
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