Escalate or exit? Military's menu of options for Trump's next move in Iran war

Military officials have included options in war planning for President Trump to end the conflict in Iran, six people familiar with the plans told NBC News.

WASHINGTON — Military officials have included options in regular war planning for President Donald Trump to end the conflict in Iran should he decide to do so, six people familiar with the plans told NBC News. So far, he hasn't.

As the conflict widens in the Middle East and the Iranian regime maintains its chokehold on the critical Strait of Hormuz, the stated terms and timeline for ending the war remain in flux. Aides and allies have sought to pull Trump in different directions: Those in favor of an exit strategy have been concerned about global economic instability since the war began, two of the people said, while other aides have focused on the opportunity to erode the regime’s influence in the region.

The timeline for the duration of the war “could change every day,” according to one of the people.

The off-ramps are built into daily war planning, along with options for escalation if the White House seeks to increase the pressure on Iran, according to the six people, who did not go into detail on what those plans look like.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump and the Pentagon provided an initial assessment of four to six weeks “to fully achieve the clear military objectives.”