Trump's evolving endgame for the Iran war, in 6 quotes

The Iran war hits its six-month mark Friday, with President Trump's path to ending it increasingly unclear.

Why it matters: Trump entered the war projecting a four- to five-week military campaign. Six months later, his proposed exits have ranged from military victory to a negotiated peace deal tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

• Now, the war centers on an open-ended economic squeeze of Iran. Meanwhile, the U.S. is moving increasing amounts of oil out of the strait, reducing Iran's leverage.

State of play: The war is in flux. Iran and Oman are discussing a framework to restore safer commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while regional mediators push for a broader off-ramp.

• There are no ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran, per President Trump as the administration focuses on weakening Iran economically and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Here's how Trump's vision for ending the war — which began Feb. 28 — has evolved, told in quotes.

Trump lays out the original endgame

Two days after the war began, Trump laid out an ambitious set of goals to end it.

• Trump went even further in the war's opening weeks, at times suggesting a role in Iran's political future.

Trump suggests a deal to end the war is near

By April, Trump was declaring the military phase a success while making reopening the Strait of Hormuz a condition for ending the fight.

• That kicked off negotiations between the U.S. and Iran that continued through the spring.

Trump makes a deal

The U.S. and Iran appeared to have a deal to reopen the strait and end the conflict through a memorandum of understanding, a one-page, 14-point memo.

• The MoU, signed by the U.S. and Iran on June 17, called for an immediate end to hostilities, reopening the strait and 60 days of negotiations toward a final nuclear deal.
• Though the MoU seemed to accomplish Trump's goals, it didn't survive the summer.

Trump's off-ramp closes

After the settlement collapsed, Trump made it clear he was done negotiating with Iran, leaving him without the off-ramp he had spent the spring pursuing.

A new exit strategy emerges

Following the MoU collapse, Trump returned to his earlier ultimatum: Iran makes a deal or suffers brutal force.

• Days later, Trump reportedly said the U.S. planned to "beat the fucking shit out of" Iran.

A third endgame slowly emerged at the same time: weakening Iran economically rather than militarily.

Economic offensive begins

Trump's latest effort centers on economic pressure, with a U.S. blockade choking off the country's financial lifeline.

• "We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money," Trump told Axios.

What we're watching: Whether mounting economic pressure can force Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Reality check: One objective has remained constant: Trump continues to insist Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon, even as his strategy has shifted from combat to diplomacy to economic warfare.

The bottom line: Trump's four- to five-week war has become a half-year conflict whose path to an end keeps changing.