Deal to Reopen Hormuz Might Require Trump Compromise

President Donald Trump may need to compromise with Iran to secure a deal reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which 20% of global oil normally flows. The dispute has been ongoing for months, with shipping remaining far below pre-crisis levels. US and Iranian officials say a deal is close, but negotiations are divided over Iranian control of routes and potential transit fees. Trump has insisted there is no truth to his sagging poll numbers, the sluggish economy, and the US military’s dwindling stockpiles of key weapons following the Iran war. However, experts say the US military is running short on advanced weapons, and the increasing economic pressure may prompt Trump to compromise on the strait. Iran has insisted on some measure of control over the waterway, saying it will not go back to being an open international waterway as it was before the war. The Trump administration has ruled out any arrangement that would cement Iran’s grip over the Persian Gulf waterway, including Tehran charging fees. The conflict has kept gasoline prices elevated and poses problems for Republicans in November’s midterm elections. Trump has so far conceded little about the war, but former State Department official David Schenker says the president may be willing to make concessions to resolve the crisis.