President Donald Trump's inconsistent signals regarding the future of the Iran war have caused increasing frustration among GOP lawmakers and allies. The president has expressed a desire for peace and a willingness to escalate the war into a more dangerous phase. He has also ordered thousands more troops to the region and has declined to specify what constitutes a victory. The White House has been under pressure from Arab allies and some in the GOP to declare victory before voters turn against him. Despite this, oil prices have continued to rise, ignoring Trump's assurances that the pain from his “little stopover” in Iran is close to finished. The administration has been unable to detail plans to achieve key objectives if Iran doesn't cooperate, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz or permanently ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions.