For weeks, Trump has been laying the groundwork for declaring victory in a war with Iran if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, even privately suggesting to senior advisers that he would be willing to strike a deal without a nuclear agreement, the newspaper said.
The US has reached all its military objectives regarding Iran, a White House official told the publication.
Trump is now focused on ensuring energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and he will retain the option to use military force if Iran continues to attack shipping, the official told the newspaper.
US officials added that the President privately told senior advisers that Tehran was unlikely to resume its nuclear activities while he was in power, as the US had destroyed three major nuclear facilities by 2025. In recent meetings, Trump also emphasised his confidence that the threat of US attacks on Iran would serve as a credible deterrent.
Officials indicated that Trump would be more likely to extend the current ceasefire indefinitely if the US was able to control Iran’s nuclear programme. The President is also expected to lift the US military blockade of Iranian ports if Tehran fully opened the Strait of Hormuz.
The US leader previously announced that he had called off attacks on Iran in light of the emerging peace deal, the outlines of which include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and agreements on the nuclear programme. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said last week that Iran and Oman had agreed on the geographical details of the route for ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz.
