The United States has confirmed it is holding direct talks with Iran, with President Donald Trump reportedly ready to declare victory and abandon his push for a nuclear agreement if Tehran restores shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Vice President JD Vance said the administration is talking directly to Tehran to maximize oil and gas flows through the strategic waterway and keep fuel prices down for Americans. In a Fox News interview, Vance said Washington was assessing whether Iran would make long-term changes, while continuing to apply pressure.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has privately told senior aides he could walk away without a new nuclear deal. US officials said Trump would accept the reopening of the strait as a win, particularly while US petrol prices remain stable. The president reportedly believes Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear facilities within his presidency after US forces struck three sites during the June 2025 war. He expects intelligence to detect any reconstruction work and trusts that the threat of further attacks will deter Tehran.
The report said Trump could extend the ceasefire indefinitely and lift the US naval blockade if shipping resumes and Washington keeps the ability to prevent Iran's nuclear programme from being restored. A White House official said the US had achieved its military objectives in Iran and was now prioritising the movement of oil, while keeping forces in the region to strike again if ships are targeted.
Iran has set conditions for reopening the strait. Its national security chief demanded the US lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports, pay compensation for war damage and release frozen Iranian assets. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman say they are close to a deal to manage the waterway, reportedly without fees or tolls.
Vance said the US had destroyed Iran's nuclear programme, its conventional military and sharply reduced its asymmetric military abilities. He said the effort was not over and the US was in the middle of it.