Trump open to ending Iran war without nuclear deal if Strait of Hormuz reopens

President Donald Trump has privately signaled to senior aides that he is willing to end the war with Iran without securing a nuclear deal, provided Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials. However, Iran has raised the price for reopening the strategic waterway, demanding billions of dollars in payments, the withdrawal of American forces from the region, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade, creating a major obstacle to a swift exit from the conflict.

The Wall Street Journal reported on August 9 that Trump has been preparing to declare victory if Iran restores commercial navigation through the strait, a critical route for global energy shipments. The administration has increasingly focused on this objective after broader negotiations over Iran's nuclear program proved difficult. A White House official stated that U.S. forces have achieved their military objectives and that Trump's focus has now shifted to ensuring the free movement of energy through Hormuz, while military options remain available if Iran attacks additional vessels.

Iran's demands, however, go far beyond simply reopening the waterway. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's...