Refuses to Set End Date: "President Will Decide"

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated during a routine briefing on the 19th (local time) that "no timeline has been set" for ending the war with Iran, and that "the President will decide when the war ends." He emphasized that "operational objectives—destroying Iran's missile capabilities, neutralizing defense production infrastructure, decimating naval forces, and preventing nuclear armament—remain identical to those on day one of the conflict."

Since the war began on February 28, the United States and Israel have reportedly struck over 7,000 targets inside Iran during the past three weeks. However, the war is expanding across the Middle East beyond initial expectations. The Pentagon has requested over $200 billion in additional war funding from Congress. Secretary Hegseth remarked, "Taking out bad guys costs money," adding that "the exact amount is subject to change."

South Pars Strike Intensifies Energy War

The turning point in the war was Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field. When South Pars, the world's largest natural gas field, was engulfed in flames, Iran immediately retaliated by attacking energy facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Transit through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively halted, and international oil and natural gas prices have surged.

President Donald Trump warned that "if there are additional attacks on Qatar, we will conduct massive bombing of the entire South Pars complex." During a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, he compared the strike to the Pearl Harbor attack. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi countered, stating "the United States started this war" and "the U.S. must take responsibility for all consequences." The Iranian government officially rejected ceasefire negotiation proposals.

Ground Troop Deployment Opposition vs. Public Concerns

According to a Reuters-Ipsos poll, 65% of Americans expect President Trump to deploy large-scale ground forces to Iran. However, only 7% support such action. While President Trump has publicly stated he "will not deploy ground troops to the Middle East," concerns about actual deployment are growing as the war becomes prolonged.

Currently, U.S. air strikes on Iran heavily rely on aging KC-135 aerial refueling tankers. While aerial refueling aircraft are critical assets enabling bombers and fighters to conduct long-range missions, experts point out that operational burden is increasing due to aircraft obsolescence and the complex Middle Eastern airspace environment.

Impact on South Korea

As attacks on Middle Eastern energy facilities continue, uncertainty in international energy markets is rapidly increasing. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which approximately 20% of global oil shipments pass, and South Korea's dependence on Middle Eastern crude oil imports exceeds 70%. If the strait's closure becomes prolonged, disruptions to South Korea's crude oil imports and soaring oil prices will be inevitable.

Additionally, as a major U.S. ally, South Korea may face pressure to articulate its diplomatic position on the Iran war. If the United States requests allied participation in sanctions against Iran and military support, the South Korean government will likely need to make complex decisions simultaneously considering its alliance with the U.S., Middle East diplomacy, and energy security.