According to reports, President Trump has intensified his preparations in this direction over the past few weeks and has privately indicated to his senior aides that he could withdraw from the conflict even without a formal nuclear agreement with Tehran. However, the situation is not easy to handle as Iran is imposing heavy conditions in exchange for opening this water route. Tehran is making high demands such as billions of dollars in damages, ending the US naval blockade, complete withdrawal of US military forces, and relief from economic sanctions.
Iran has used its missile and drone capabilities to slow commercial shipping through this narrow sea corridor, exacerbating instability in the international energy market. Although Trump recently claimed that the Strait was fully open, the reality on the ground has been the opposite. Meanwhile, reports of a missile attack on a United Arab Emirates (UAE) ship and tough conditions imposed by top Iranian officials have further complicated diplomatic expectations.
Political pressure is also mounting within the US, given the upcoming midterm elections. With domestic petrol and diesel prices rising, the administration is eager to demonstrate to American voters that the military campaign has achieved its primary objectives. Trump believes that after US strikes damaged key Iranian nuclear facilities in May 2025, Iran will be unable to develop nuclear weapons again during his term.
This is why, if maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is fully restored and the nuclear threat is contained, Washington may abandon its insistence on a formal nuclear deal and back down. However, Iran’s economic demands and the conditions for lifting sanctions remain the biggest obstacles to this potential agreement.