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Sunday, August 9, 2026
Seeking to declare ‘victory’ in Iran war, Trump may drop nuclear issue if Iran opens Hormuz — report
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
US President Donald Trump is focused on getting the Strait of Hormuz open, and could suspend attempts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran if shipping resumes in the waterway, US officials tell The Wall Street Journal.
The WSJ quotes the officials saying that Trump has been “laying the groundwork to declare victory” in the Iran war should Tehran fully reopen the strait, “even floating the idea privately to senior aides that he’s willing to walk away without a nuclear deal.”
One White House official tells the WSJ that Washington achieved all of its military objectives against Tehran, and is focused on opening Hormuz.
Trump told top advisers that he believes that Iran would struggle to restart its nuclear program after its three main sites were destroyed last June, according to the report.
Trump has insisted that Iran could not attempt to revive its program or build a bomb without US intelligence finding out, and believes it has been deterred by the threat of US military action from even trying to go nuclear.
If there is no discernible advance in Iran’s nuclear program and the strait reopens, Trump is likely to keep the current ceasefire ongoing and lift the US naval blockade on Iran, US officials tell the outlet.
Trump had earlier insisted that any deal to end the war include measures to ensure Iran cannot revive its nuclear program.
The Times of Israel Community.