Trump Signals Willingness to End Iran War Without Nuclear Deal Over Hormuz Reopening
August 9, 2026 — President Donald Trump has privately indicated to senior aides that he could end the U.S.-Iran conflict without securing a nuclear agreement if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. officials. Iran has responded by raising its demands, tying Hormuz reopening to compensation, sanctions relief, and broader security concessions.
Immediate Details & Direct Quotes
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The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Trump’s private stance marks a potential shift in U.S. objectives, moving away from the nuclear issue toward restoring energy flows through the strategic waterway. However, the White House has not publicly confirmed any change in policy direction.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated through Reuters that Tehran is demanding compensation for U.S. attacks, while Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, secretary of Iran’s top security body, called for sanctions relief, freed Iranian assets, and an end to U.S. military pressure on Iran and its regional allies.
The reported willingness to “walk away without a nuclear deal” remains a private policy consideration rather than an announced shift in U.S. strategy.
A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once commercial shipping resumes without impediments through Hormuz. This creates a sequencing problem: Washington wants shipping restored before lifting the blockade, while Iran insists broader U.S. concessions must come first.
Market Context & Reaction
Brent crude settled Friday at $83.55 per barrel, up 1.3%, as traders awaited clearer details on Hormuz negotiations. Bitcoin was trading near $65,184 on Sunday, though there is no evidence the Journal report alone triggered the move with U.S. markets closed.
The Strait of Hormuz handled approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the current disruption. A durable reopening could affect energy prices, transport costs, and inflation expectations across global markets.
Most Gulf stock markets ended Sunday subdued while investors waited for clarity on the Iran-Oman arrangement, according to Reuters. The conflict has repeatedly impacted crypto risk sentiment through oil prices and inflation expectations — Bitcoin fell below $64,000 on July 31 as renewed fighting lifted oil, then recovered as Hormuz agreement expectations improved.
Background & Historical Context
The Journal reported that Trump believes Iran may be unable to rebuild its nuclear program during his presidency following earlier U.S. strikes that damaged major facilities. He reportedly judges that U.S. intelligence could detect renewed work and that the threat of more military action could deter rebuilding efforts.
A White House official told the Journal that the administration considers its military objectives completed and is now focused on restoring energy flows through Hormuz while keeping military options available if Iran attacks shipping.
Domestic politics add pressure, with the national average gasoline price at $4.02 per gallon compared with $3.16 a year earlier, and midterm elections less than three months away. The Journal reported Trump is prepared to wait through negotiating difficulties as long as gasoline prices remain manageable.
An Iran-Oman agreement defining new shipping lanes is in “final stages,” according to Araqchi, but Tehran says the waterway would not reopen simply because that technical arrangement is completed. Iran and the U.S. are not in direct talks, although messages continue through intermediaries.
What This Means
The next verifiable step is the Iran-Oman shipping agreement, though no final text has been published. Tehran says the technical arrangement alone will not reopen the strait.
Iran continues seeking compensation, sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, and security concessions. Reuters reported one proposed arrangement version could give Tehran a role in controlling ships entering the Gulf — something U.S. officials have repeatedly opposed alongside mandatory tolls.
Reopening Hormuz appears to be the most tangible off-ramp available to Washington. Whether it becomes the basis for ending the conflict depends on published terms, actual shipping access, and whether both sides can sequence concessions without triggering another round of military escalation.
Market participants should monitor for official announcements regarding the Iran-Oman agreement and any White House confirmation of policy changes. This article is not financial advice — conduct your own research before making trading decisions based on geopolitical developments.
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