NEW YORK, September 19. /TASS/. The administration of US President Donald Trump does not view the conflict with Iran as an ongoing war, House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said.
"The administration doesn't consider this an ongoing war. It's not. They're trying to resolve an operation, Operation Epic Fury, which was an epic success," he said in an interview with Salem News Channel. "Now it's in a diplomatic discussion and negotiation to resolve the remaining conflict, and specifically, it's about keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for commerce."
According to Johnson, the conflict is in its final stage. "I think that this thing is in the last phase. I do believe it's going to come to a resolution quickly," he added.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. However, on the night of July 8, the United States resumed large·scale strikes against Iran, accusing it of violating the agreements on the Strait of Hormuz. About a quarter of the world’s oil trade volume and about 20% of liquefied natural gas trade pass through it. Later the US administration effectively signaled its intention to stop using large·scale military force against Iran and to shift to an attempt to economically strangle it through sanctions.
