WSJ: Trump ready to end Iran war without nuclear deal if Hormuz Strait fully reopens
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President Donald Trump has privately told senior aides he is ready to end the war with Iran without a nuclear deal, portraying the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a victory, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday, citing U.S. officials. The White House said all military objectives against Iran have been achieved and the administration is now focused on restoring free passage of energy shipments through the strait. The shift comes even as Tehran demands a ban on U.S. warships in the waterway and compensation, and Iran's Supreme National Security Council set out six preconditions for reopening the strait.
Trump's Private Signals
According to the Journal, Trump told aides that Iran is unlikely to rebuild its nuclear program during his presidency because the U.S. destroyed three key facilities last year. If the nuclear threat can be contained and shipping resumes, Trump is more likely to extend the ceasefire indefinitely; a full reopening of the strait would lead him to lift the naval blockade on Iranian ports. White House officials stressed that military options remain on the table should new attacks on vessels occur. Eurasia Group's Iran expert Gregory Brew noted that 'the Iranians are fully confident Trump wants an exit and is focused on opening the strait, so they are playing hardball.'
Iran's Demands
On Saturday, IRGC General Hossein Mohabbi said the strait's reopening 'depends directly' on the U.S. accepting Iran's conditions and is unrelated to negotiations with Oman. Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr outlined six preconditions, including a U.S. pledge to end threats, a permanent cessation of war against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq, withdrawal of naval and air forces, full compensation, sanctions relief, and release of frozen assets. Reuters reported that a separate deal between Iran and Oman on the strait would give Tehran control over ships entering the Persian Gulf, a major concession.
Oil and Diplomatic Calculus
Trump believes he can wait out the diplomatic stalemate as long as U.S. gasoline prices remain near current levels. The average price of regular gasoline was $4.02 per gallon on August 8, up from $3.16 a year earlier but easing from recent peaks. Washington has rejected Iran's terms outright. The administration sees the combination of a contained nuclear program and restored shipping as a sufficient victory to declare an end to the conflict, even without a formal nuclear accord.
What's Next
The ceasefire is likely to be extended while the White House monitors both shipping security and fuel prices at home. It remains unclear whether Iran will relax its demands or if U.S. consumers will tolerate sustained higher gasoline costs through the election season.
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WSJ: Trump ready to end Iran war without nuclear deal if Hormuz Strait fully reopens
