The Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump has privately told senior aides he may be willing to end the military campaign against Iran without a final nuclear deal, provided Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz. According to U.S. officials cited by the paper, Iran's sweeping new demands are complicating his search for an exit.
The Wall Street Journal reports that President Donald Trump has privately told senior aides he may be willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran without a final nuclear deal, provided the Islamic Republic fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz. According to U.S. officials cited by the paper, Iran's sweeping new demands are complicating the president's search for an exit strategy.
The report adds to a cascade of signals over the past hours. At 14:12 Jerusalem, multiple outlets — including The Jerusalem Post, ynet, and N12 — reported that Trump was considering a victory declaration even without a nuclear deal. At 14:13, The Zioneer reported on a strategic rift between Jerusalem and Washington over the endgame, with Trump reportedly preparing to declare victory. At 15:00, U.S. officials told journalist Tomer Almogor that Trump was likely to extend the current ceasefire indefinitely if the Strait of Hormuz reopens. At 15:14, the Wall Street Journal itself reported that Trump had been laying the groundwork for such a declaration for weeks.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, Trump has framed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a central outcome of the diplomatic track. Earlier this week, the President stated that the strait would not have opened without the nuclear deal, and later claimed it would be fully open by Friday. The emerging signals suggest a shift toward a narrower exit strategy focused on the waterway rather than a comprehensive nuclear agreement.
It remains unclear whether Iran's new demands — which U.S. officials describe as sweeping in scope — will be met, and whether the reopening of the strait alone would satisfy the Trump administration's definition of victory. The IRGC's refusal to relinquish control of the strait until its own conditions are met, as reported by The Zioneer at 14:13 Jerusalem, suggests that any declaration may be premature while the regional threat remains potent.
4 developments
- DevelopingTrump willing to end Iran war without nuclear deal if Hormuz reopens, report says
- StrongUS officials: Trump likely to extend Iran ceasefire indefinitely if Hormuz reopens
- DevelopingTrump: Without a deal, US military actions could shut Hormuz for extended period
- StrongTrump: Strait of Hormuz is open and will remain open, with or without Iran
Source and signal
- Open-source intake