President Donald Trump is getting ready to declare a win over Iran without landing a new nuclear agreement, The Wall Street Journal reported. The idea, reportedly, is to pull back from more talks once Iran fully restores navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration sees the return of normal shipping through the globally important energy corridor as something it can sell as a diplomatic victory, even without a formal nuclear accord.
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Small waterway. Huge importance. It is one of the world's most vital energy transport routes. A big share of global oil and natural gas shipments passes through these waters, and any long disruption could shake international energy markets.
Talks between the Trump administration and Iran on the nuclear file still run into major disagreements, and there is still no new agreement in place. So the current setup suggests Washington is putting more weight on regional stability and the return of shipping than on getting an immediate, comprehensive nuclear deal. (WSJ)