Trump considers tasking Gulf states with Iran Strait of Hormuz talks

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering leaving Gulf states to negotiate with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, according to anonymous sources. Trump has sent mixed signals, saying the war is over while ordering Vice President Vance to step back from talks. He plans to meet Putin and Xi at APEC next week.

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering leaving the Gulf states to manage negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Associated Press citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter. Trump believes that oil shipments through the strait are nearing pre-war levels and that it is becoming safer for him to declare that his military objectives have been achieved. However, UN data shows that October had the highest number of incidents against commercial ships in the strait since February, and the passage remains dangerous. The White House confirmed that Trump will meet on Thursday with Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, and will also raise the issue of Iran. Trump sent mixed messages this week: initially he said that large-scale strikes would likely not be necessary, but later stated that the U.S. does not need a deal with Iran and instructed Vice President Vance to stop leading the talks. Diplomats in the Middle East said the negotiation process is shrouded in fog due to the contradictory statements. Ynet commentator Ron Ben Yishai noted that an American withdrawal would be a psychological defeat for the U.S. and Israel.