Oil, strait of Hormuz and empty threats: a timeline of Trump’s flip-flopping on the Iran war

# Summary Donald Trump's administration launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, 2026, initially stating objectives to destroy Iran's missiles, eliminate its navy and prevent nuclear weapons development. However, in the fifth week of the war as of April 4, 2026, Trump contradicted himself repeatedly on war objectives and American interests, claiming the conflict had nothing to do with oil while simultaneously posting the US should "take the oil & make a fortune," and shifting positions on whether the US or other nations could reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On March 29, Trump told reporters Iran had agreed to most of a 15-point US demands list and had shipped oil as a show of good faith, while separately telling the Financial Times he wanted to seize Kharg Island, which handles 90% of Tehran's oil exports. On March 30, Trump announced "great progress" in discussions with "a new, and more reasonable, regime" in Iran while simultaneously threatening to destroy Iran's power plants, oil wells, Kharg Island and possibly desalination plants if a deal was not reached immediately.