Conservative commentator Scott Jennings said Wednesday that President Trump should issue a "formal declaration of victory" against Iran, as the Trump administration seeks to financially hamper the regime and its allies amid tit-for-tat strikes in the Middle East.

Jennings responded to remarks made by fellow CNN political commentator Xochitl Hinojosa on "The Arena with Kasie Hunt," when Hinojosa asked what Trump's exit strategy is. Jennings replied that the exit strategy "is happening right now."

"It's the commander in chief's job, and I'm sure he will do it," he said. "To explain to the American people how we have won this war. How we are safer and how this is going to benefit the world. That is the next phase of this."

Jennings then called for an "affirmative, formal declaration of victory," saying "far be it for me to put a timetable on him."

"But we're at the point now where Iran is totally scrambled and defeated, and we need to take credit for it, in my opinion," he added.

The commentator, who has been floated as a potential successor to former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said the Trump administration's decision to strike Iran in February was a "righteous" one. He also argued the military operation is "going to work out for the safety and security of the American people," prompting Hunt to point out the conflict's massive unpopularity with Americans.

"Voters do not believe that we've won this war," Hinojosa said earlier in the discussion. "They actually don't even know how we get out of this war. So, if I were a Republican or anybody in a swing district, I would call on the president to come out with a plan to get us out of this war and actually be against the president in terms of, like, claiming victory."

Trump justified the conflict Tuesday while warning Iran against further strikes on American military bases in Persian Gulf countries. Iran launched missiles and drones toward those allies and bases early the next day in retaliation of renewed U.S. strikes.

The back-and-forth military strikes this week reignited the largest outbreak of fighting after a monthlong stalemate. Both sides have remained stuck over control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has kept closed off to commercial vessels shipping one-fifth of the world's oil.

The president, who deployed a naval blockade by Iranian ports in the strait, even floated the idea that he could name the body of water after himself, writing on Truth Social that "it would be 'hotter' than ever before!"

He has also suggested multiple times since the early days of the conflict that it would come to an end within weeks or months. He repeated this Wednesday as the conflict stretches into its seventh month, telling reporters that he does not "think it will be very much longer" until the conflict ends.

Trump is facing growing pressure to contain the hostilities before the midterms. The White House told Reuters that it would not escalate military action against Iran until after the midterms.

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