Trump eyes exit from Iran conflict without nuclear deal

The internal discussions, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, reflect a strategic pivot toward stabilizing global oil flows as midterm elections approach. While the White House has not publicly abandoned its goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, sources indicate Trump believes recent military strikes have sufficiently crippled Iranian infrastructure to deter any near-term nuclear development. This assessment allows the administration to view the reopening of the vital waterway as the primary benchmark for de-escalation.

Negotiations remain deadlocked, however, by a fundamental sequencing dispute. Tehran is demanding significant concessions—including the release of frozen assets, the withdrawal of U.S. forces, and an end to the naval blockade—before it will permit commercial shipping to resume. Washington insists on the restoration of free transit through the strait as a prerequisite for lifting its own maritime restrictions. Meanwhile, Iran is finalizing a separate technical shipping agreement with Oman, though officials in Tehran maintain this will not trigger an automatic reopening of the strait without broader security and economic guarantees.