Media: The US is preparing for a prolonged exchange of strikes with Iran

The White House is preparing for the possibility of a multi-day or even multi-week exchange of strikes between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.

This is reported by Axios, citing sources.

According to American officials, the duration and scale of the new campaign will depend entirely on Tehran's further actions. It could be a day or two, a week, or a month, depending on whether Iran attacks commercial vessels.

Sources say that, in the White House's view, the US has more room for escalation, as hundreds of oil tankers have been able to exit the Persian Gulf through the strait in recent weeks.

This in turn has eased concerns within the administration that a resumption of the conflict would immediately trigger a sharp spike in oil prices.

An American official stated that the current escalation is driven by frustration among the most hardline elements within the fractured Iranian leadership, who believe that the memorandum of understanding has not brought Tehran any real benefit.

According to them, Tehran has not received the expected economic benefits, including a full restoration of oil exports and access to frozen assets, which contributed to the resumption of the conflict.