Hello and welcome to News Hour from the World Service of the BBC.
Coming live from London, this is Owen Bennett-Jones.
President Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration
that other countries have ignored his calls for them to send ships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,
which Iran has effectively closed.
And now, in the latest of a series of conflicting messages,
he says the US is considering winding down its military campaign, but still wants other nations to guard the Strait.
And he told reporters he didn't want a ceasefire.
I don't want to do a ceasefire.
You know, you don't do a ceasefire when you're literally obliterating the other side.
They don't have a Navy.
They don't have an Air Force.
They don't have any equipment.
They don't have any spotters.
They don't have anti-aircraft.
They don't have radar.
And their leaders have all been killed at every level.
We're not looking to do that.
But they are managing to close the Strait of Hormuz,
and Iran's reaction to the US and Israeli attack has basically focused attention on the Strait