Trump privately weighs unilateral declaration to end Iran war, sources say

President Donald Trump has recently held private discussions with senior advisers about declaring an end to the war with Iran, sources say.

Fox News reported Thursday (local time), citing sources, that Trump privately discussed with advisers the idea of making a unilateral declaration to end the war with Iran. Trump signaled at the meeting that he favored the idea, the network added.

The concept of a unilateral end-of-war declaration — independent of any actual resolution of the conflict or reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — had surfaced before, during the height of the airstrikes in March. At the time, Axios analyzed five scenarios for ending the Iran war and identified a "unilateral victory declaration and withdrawal by Trump" as the option markets viewed as most likely. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also lent weight to that outlook, saying Trump "will end the operation when the objectives are achieved."

The prospect of a self-declared end to the war faded in April after the United States and Iran began back-channel talks, but it has resurfaced now that a cease-fire MOU signed in June has in effect collapsed and both sides have resumed airstrikes.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said the renewed US airstrikes against Iran would not last "too long." Vice President JD Vance, in remarks to reporters Thursday (local time), appeared to downplay the conflict, saying he would "not call this a war" and describing it as a special military operation.