US President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring a path to end the ongoing US–Iran conflict without securing a broader nuclear agreement, signalling a major shift in Washington’s wartime objectives. According to a report cited by The Wall Street Journal, Trump has privately told senior aides he could declare the confrontation a success if Iran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, even in the absence of a nuclear deal.
The Strait of Hormuz — a vital global oil chokepoint — has remained closed to US warships and allied vessels since Iran shut the waterway in February. Tehran also demanded payments from commercial ships, a move Washington rejected, alongside Iran’s restrictions on shipping. Tensions escalated further when the UAE accused Iran of launching a missile at one of its vessels.
Iran, however, has laid out sweeping conditions before it will reopen the strait. Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr outlined demands including:
- Permanent end to the war
- Lifting of the US naval blockade
- Withdrawal of American forces from the region
- Removal of sanctions
- Release of frozen Iranian assets
- Payment of war reparations
- An end to US threats, “insults,” and military operations against Iranian‑backed groups
Tehran argues that its ability to restrict Hormuz traffic gives it significant leverage, especially after missile and drone attacks disrupted commercial shipping and rattled global oil markets.
Trump’s team is reportedly searching for a face‑saving exit, but Iran’s conditions make a quick resolution unlikely. Analysts say reopening Hormuz without addressing deeper political and military disputes would be difficult.