Trump may declare ‘victory’ over Iran without nuclear deal
According to Ynet, The Wall Street Journal reports that US President Donald Trump is exercising patience following a fresh deadlock in negotiations with Iran. US officials state that while Trump is awaiting a resolution to current disputes, it remains unclear whether he will agree to all of Tehran's conditions. Iran has demanded significant concessions—including financial compensation, the lifting of sanctions, an end to the US naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American forces from the region—as prerequisites for fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to nuclear talks. US officials have dismissed some of these demands as unacceptable, though Washington has indicated it would be prepared to lift the blockade on Iranian ports if the Strait is fully reopened. The reopening of the Strait is intended to pave the way for negotiations on limiting Iran's nuclear programme, following a June memorandum of understanding. At the time, the White House stated the goal was to restore freedom of navigation and move toward a more comprehensive nuclear agreement. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that in private discussions with senior advisors, Trump has raised the possibility of ending US military operations against Iran without a new nuclear deal, provided Tehran fully reopens the Strait. Such an outcome would restore a vital global energy transit route and lower fuel prices for American consumers, a matter of increasing political importance to the President. A White House official told the newspaper that the US has already achieved its military objectives regarding Iran. While the administration has publicly claimed its operations have significantly degraded Iran's military and nuclear capabilities, continued Iranian attacks and disruptions to shipping have complicated Washington's assessment of the campaign's success. Trump has kept military options open, warning that the US may take further action if Iran continues to target vessels. Regional mediators had previously proposed solutions for reopening the Strait, including the creation of new shipping lanes in Iranian and Omani waters. The US has opposed Iranian efforts to charge fees or exert control over international transit in the strategic waterway. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has told advisors in recent weeks that he believes Tehran will be unable to rebuild its nuclear programme, at least for the remainder of his term, due to extensive damage to its facilities. He reportedly believes US intelligence would detect any attempt to rebuild or secretly develop nuclear weapons, and that the threat of renewed military action serves as a deterrent. The US government maintains that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported on Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, met with President Masoud Pezeshkian. The meeting was described as marking the start of Pezeshkian's third year in office, though the time and location were not disclosed. The anniversary of the start of Pezeshkian's third year occurred in late July. Mojtaba Khamenei has made very few public appearances since succeeding his father as Supreme Leader earlier this year. Pezeshkian has previously noted that communication with the leader is difficult, and previous official reports have indicated only rare, private meetings between the two. According to recent Iranian media reports, the discussion covered domestic economic pressures, military developments, government resource management, and foreign economic relations.