US President Donald Trump is reportedly prepared to conclude the ongoing West Asia conflict without securing a nuclear agreement with Tehran, provided Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz to international traffic.
According to officials cited by The Wall Street Journal newspaper, Trump has been laying the groundwork to declare victory if maritime movement through the strategic waterway resumes, marking a shift from his earlier insistence on a comprehensive nuclear accord.
Also read: Mamata Banerjee says stones, shoes, mud thrown at her car in presence of Bengal police team
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has remained partially closed since Iran imposed restrictions following the outbreak of hostilities in February. Tehran’s missile and drone strikes on vessels have disrupted commercial traffic and heightened volatility in global energy markets. The US administration now views the reopening of the strait as a potential exit route from the conflict.
Senior officials said Trump’s focus has moved from dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme to restoring free navigation through Hormuz. If Tehran allows unrestricted passage and its nuclear capabilities remain contained, the US could extend the current ceasefire indefinitely. Trump has privately told aides that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was severely damaged after US strikes last year and that intelligence agencies would detect any attempt to rebuild or covertly develop weapons.
Also read: I know you love handloom sarees, but handloom has to be a way of life beyond sarees
However, Iran’s latest demands have complicated prospects for an agreement. Tehran has sought billions of dollars in compensation, the withdrawal of American forces from the region, an end to the US naval blockade, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the US must lift sanctions, pay reparations, and halt military operations against Iran’s regional allies before the strait can reopen.
Washington has rejected Tehran’s conditions, including its proposal to levy tolls on commercial vessels and restrict US warships from passing through the waterway. Officials said the US would not agree to any payments or concessions that could be interpreted as war reparations.
In recent days, Trump told reporters he had been prepared to launch what he described as “the biggest military attack since World War II” but was persuaded by allies to reconsider. He also claimed that a deal with Iran was “imminent,” though no agreement has materialised. On Friday, Trump shared an article titled “Donald Trump Won the Iran War,” suggesting that he viewed the current situation as a strategic success even without a formal accord.
Vice President JD Vance said Washington’s priority remains securing stable oil and gas supplies from the Middle East to ease domestic energy prices. The administration believes reopening Hormuz would help stabilise fuel costs ahead of the US midterm elections, where inflation and energy prices have become central issues.
Iran’s stance, however, indicates preparation for a prolonged standoff. Tehran continues to demand the lifting of sanctions and the end of US military presence in the region. With both sides unwilling to concede, the prospect of a negotiated settlement remains uncertain, even as Trump positions the reopening of Hormuz as a symbolic victory in the West Asia conflict. 
