Trump says Iran will pay — what it takes to end the war remains unclear

Nearly five months after launching a sweeping campaign against Iran's nuclear, missile, naval and proxy capabilities, the Trump administration is now fighting to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while negotiations have yet to produce a permanent settlement. The administration says its renewed strikes have a clear immediate objective: "making Iran pay." Less clear is what Iran must do to end the strikes — or what conditions would allow the U.S. to step back from a growing military commitment in the region. In response to questioning on the end goals in Iran, a U.S. official said: "Right now, the President is focused on making Iran pay for their violations of the MOU and their continued acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz." "These devastating blows will continue until the president deems otherwise, but talks between our countries are continuing," the official said. "President Trump has all of the cards and all options at his disposal, and Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon." Eighteen U.S. service members have been killed since the war began, while Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told lawmakers Tuesday that the campaign has cost an estimated $37.5 billion.