U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated to senior aides that he could be willing to end the war with Iran without securing a new nuclear agreement if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, August 9, that Trump has privately raised the possibility that Iran may be unlikely to revive its nuclear programme during his presidency, potentially reducing the need for a new nuclear agreement to be a condition for ending the conflict.
The reported position comes as Washington and Tehran remain divided over the conditions for reopening the strategic waterway. Indirect negotiations involving Oman have made progress, but no final agreement has been announced. Reuters has reported that Iran and Oman are nearing an understanding on new shipping lanes, although Tehran has said such an arrangement alone would not be sufficient to fully reopen the strait.
The reported shift could place the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of efforts to end the conflict. Washington wants unrestricted commercial shipping through the waterway, while Tehran has linked its reopening to broader concessions from the United States.
Iranian officials have demanded an end to U.S. military action and threats against Iran and its regional allies, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and compensation for damage caused by the conflict. Tehran has also called for an end to the reported U.S. naval blockade and the withdrawal of American military forces from the region.
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the main pressure points in the conflict because it carries a significant share of global energy shipments. Reuters reported that Gulf crude and condensate exports remained about 40% below pre-war levels in July, while tanker traffic through Hormuz and other regional routes remained well below normal.
The disruption has also affected oil markets. Reuters reported on August 9 that Brent crude rose to about $84.32 a barrel amid uncertainty over prospects for reopening the strait.
The diplomatic efforts therefore carry significance beyond the immediate conflict. A deal that restores commercial shipping could ease pressure on energy markets and regional trade, while continued restrictions could prolong disruption to one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Washington has signalled optimism that an agreement could be reached soon. Reuters reported that the United States was prepared to lift its blockade of Iranian ports once an agreement restoring unrestricted commercial shipping through the strait was announced.
However, major differences remain between the two sides. Iran has insisted that reopening Hormuz must be accompanied by broader political and economic concessions, while Washington wants the waterway reopened without restrictions that would give Tehran greater control over international commercial shipping.
