Trump stated that new negotiations, backed by Gulf allies, represent a last chance
for Tehran to forge a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address U.S. nuclear concerns.
The U.S. was locked and loaded for what Donald Trump described as the biggest attack since World War II. The plan, which reportedly targeted Iranian energy infrastructure, was discussed during a cabinet meeting on Friday. However, the president shelved the operation after receiving pleas from Gulf allies and unnamed Iranian officials.
The Gulf Allies and the ‘Wall of Steel’
The decision to pivot toward diplomacy came after consultations with senior leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite the pause in bombing, the U.S. continues to maintain a strict naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports. Trump has characterized this blockade as a Wall of Steel
, asserting that nothing will enter Iran unless a total surrender or a deal is reached.
“I want to give them every last chance before decapitation.”
Donald Trump, President of the United States
Two Phases of the Proposed Deal
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump outlined a specific two-step sequence for the negotiations he expects to begin within the next day or two.
- Phase One: The reopening of the straits to ensure free navigation.
- Phase Two: A longer-term process focusing on the denuclearization of Iran.
Trump insisted that the U.S. maintains total control over the waterway and will not allow Iran to charge for access.
Conflicting Claims on Diplomatic Contact
A sharp discrepancy has emerged regarding whether direct talks are actually happening. Trump has described the Iranian leadership as unbelievably duplicitous
, claiming that Tehran requested meetings and then publicly denied their existence.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has countered these assertions. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that while Tehran is pursuing multiple diplomatic tracks, it is not currently holding direct negotiations with the United States. According to Baghaei, Iran is instead working with Oman and other regional and non-regional countries to decrease tension, with Oman specifically focusing on a temporary route for safe navigation.
The tension is further complicated by Iran’s efforts to bypass the U.S. blockade.
The ‘Madman Theory’ and Domestic Pressure
This cycle of apocalyptic threats followed by diplomatic openings is a recurring pattern in the current conflict, which began on February 28. In early April, Trump warned that a whole civilisation will die tonight
if Iran refused talks—a threat that eventually led to face-to-face discussions in Pakistan led by Vice-President JD Vance, though no deal was reached.
Internal U.S. pressures are also mounting. With midterm elections approaching in November, any further escalation that spikes oil prices could create significant domestic political liabilities for the administration.
While the U.S. has devastated layers of Tehran’s navy and air force, Iran appears to be betting that it can outlast the administration as U.S. munitions stockpiles diminish and the war remains unpopular with the electorate.
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