Iran’s negotiators have signaled to the United States that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened before President Donald Trump formally called off what he has described as imminent, massive strikes against Tehran, according to a report cited by The New York Post. The development underscores how quickly diplomacy, military pressure, and regional messaging are colliding around the world’s most consequential maritime chokepoint.
Trump has repeatedly warned that the U.S. remains prepared to use force, describing readiness at “levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II.” He has framed the confrontation in stark terms, emphasizing that Washington is “locked and loaded and ready to go” against the Islamic Republic of Iran. That rhetoric has been paired with threats of large-scale attacks, even as back-channel discussions reportedly move toward an off-ramp centered on Hormuz.
The reported Iranian signal comes amid claims that Trump was positioned to call off the strikes after additional assurances—specifically tied to Hormuz. In the same broader reporting, Trump’s cancellation conditions were described as requiring an immediate reopening of the strait and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat, with the president saying he would cancel the attack provided he could rapidly make a “deal.” The linkage illustrates a core U.S. bargaining approach: maritime access and nuclear constraints treated as parts of a single package.
Iran’s response, however, has not been consistent in public messaging. While the reporting indicates Iranian negotiators communicated flexibility to the U.S., the IRGC is said to have denied that any agreement had been reached. The denial highlights how Iran’s internal power centers may differ over how to interpret or announce potential understandings—particularly when the agenda involves both shipping routes and nuclear leverage.
Diplomatic signals and military threats appear to be influencing one another in real time. Trump’s move is described as coming after he spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, who urged him to hold off on a major strike. This Saudi intervention aligns with a regional incentive structure: reopening Hormuz would likely reduce disruption to oil and gas flows that underwrite global commerce and regional stability, while also potentially lowering the risk of further escalation.
U.S. officials and reporting from major outlets have previously suggested that Trump had been building toward a near-term “victory” narrative if Tehran fully reopened Hormuz. In the lead-up to any deal moment, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had been laying groundwork for weeks, including privately exploring the idea that he might even end the U.S. campaign without a nuclear deal, provided Iran reopened the strait. That framing is important because it implies that Washington’s immediate strategic priority—restoring maritime traffic—could outweigh the longer-term objective of securing a nuclear agreement.
That potential shift also reflects political and economic pressures. According to the Associated Press, closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas once passed—has driven up fuel and basic goods prices, roiling global economic conditions. AP also described mounting pressure on Trump to end a war that has been unpopular in the U.S., with congressional elections approaching. In that context, an early reopening could offer both economic relief and a tangible policy milestone.
AP further reported that Iran said it was in the “final stage” of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump said a deal could be announced this week. The AP account suggested that an agreement would be contingent on the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iran’s ports. It also noted that the Trump administration has previously ruled out arrangements that would cement Iran’s grip over the strait, describing such an outcome as a major U.S. loss and a break from global norms.
Iran, for its part, has insisted that it would not return to the strait as it was before the war, arguing for some measure of control and refusing to treat Hormuz as an entirely open international waterway in the old way. This stance complicates negotiations because it suggests that even if ships can pass again, the terms of passage—who monitors, who guarantees, and what rules apply—remain contested.
Against that backdrop, the reported sequence—Iran signaling openness to reopening before Trump calls off attacks—could represent an attempt to accelerate maritime normalization while still preserving bargaining space. The denial by the IRGC, meanwhile, may indicate that Iran is trying to avoid appearing to concede while simultaneously keeping channels open for an eventual settlement.
Even as diplomacy takes center stage, reporting indicates Washington has not closed the door on military options. One account described the U.S. as keeping military alternatives available if Iran continues to attack shipping, even as officials search for a diplomatic route to restore maritime traffic. That dual-track approach—threats paired with negotiation—appears to be the logic guiding the current phase of the crisis.
For now, the world is watching Hormuz not only as a strategic choke point, but as a barometer for whether this conflict is moving toward de-escalation. If Iran’s signal translates into concrete operational reopening and if the U.S. steps back from port pressure, the strait could regain a central function in global energy supply chains. But with conflicting Iranian statements and U.S. conditions still tied to wider concerns, the path from signaling to implementation remains uncertain.
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