Trump may drop Iran nuclear deal push if Strait of Hormuz reopens: Report
The US President could prioritise reopening the key oil route over a new nuclear deal as Iran sets tough conditions and US midterm elections near
US President Donald Trump may be ready to abandon efforts to secure a formal nuclear agreement with Iran if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Instead of insisting on a complete and final nuclear agreement, Trump's administration could accept the restoration of shipping through the key oil chokepoint as the basis for ending its military campaign in the region and extending the existing ceasefire, the report said.
Iran raises stakes over Hormuz
The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that Trump has spent weeks preparing for such an outcome and has privately told senior aides that he could walk away without securing a new nuclear agreement with Tehran.
Also read | Iran bets on Strait of Hormuz leverage to force Trump into a deal
Iran has put forward a long list of conditions for reopening the waterway, including billions of dollars in payments, an end to the US naval blockade, the withdrawal of American forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The demands have left Washington with fewer diplomatic options and indicate that Tehran may be preparing for a prolonged confrontation rather than seeking a quick settlement, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage between Iran and Oman, has emerged as one of Tehran's strongest sources of leverage. Iran has been able to disrupt commercial traffic through missile and drone attacks, causing delays to shipping that have, in turn, affected global markets.
Trump faces mounting pressure
Tehran closed the waterway after the war began in February and has insisted that American warships and allied vessels should not be allowed to pass through it. At the same time, the country has also sought payments from commercial vessels using the route.
Washington has rejected both the restrictions and any attempt by Iran to impose tolls, according to US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Trump has repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that the strait was already fully open, but those claims have repeatedly proved premature. He has also issued threats, warning of a “massive bombing campaign” against Iran. However, Tehran appears ready for a “long and grinding conflict”, according to the report.
Also read | Trump warns new talks are Iran’s ‘last chance’ to forge a deal
The US President's urgency to end the conflict may also be linked to the upcoming midterm elections in America, scheduled to be held in less than three months. Gasoline prices, which are much higher than they were before the war began in late February, could be a cause of concern for Trump.
Shift towards economic warfare
Meanwhile, Trump appears to be backing away from another major military offensive against Iran, with Washington potentially looking to increase economic pressure as Tehran continues to resist demands over the Strait of Hormuz. In a brief phone interview with Axios on Sunday, Trump struck a notably restrained tone after weeks of threatening a major escalation against Iran. Rather than issuing fresh military warnings, he said his administration was taking a lower-key approach while monitoring Iran's worsening economic situation.
“We are low-keying it. We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Trump said.
Trump said Iran “is in very bad shape” economically and lacks the money to pay its troops. He added that the US naval blockade has put further pressure on Tehran's economy.
The US President has repeatedly said he was persuaded by his Gulf allies to hold off on another large-scale military campaign and instead allow economic and diplomatic pressure to build.