Trump willing to end war, declare victory on Iran with no nuclear deal, officials say - report

The Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump is weighing declaring victory against Iran without a nuclear deal, contingent on keeping Iran's nuclear program in check and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say Trump privately floated extending the ceasefire indefinitely, citing Iran's likely inability to revive nuclear work after Operation Midnight Hammer. The US has completed military objectives, focusing on energy flow, while Iran's IRGC commander set six conditions for reopening the strait, including lifting sanctions and releasing assets.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that US President Donald Trump has been weighing the possibility of declaring victory against Iran without achieving a nuclear deal, citing US officials. According to the officials, Trump privately floated the idea to his senior aides, with the condition that Iran's nuclear program remains in check and traffic resumes in the Strait of Hormuz. If these conditions are met, Trump would be more likely to extend the ceasefire indefinitely. In recent weeks, Trump told senior aides that Tehran is likely unable to revive its nuclear work after Operation Midnight Hammer caused heavy damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure in June 2025. The US intelligence capabilities would likely catch any Iranian attempts to rebuild, and Trump is confident that the threat of more US attacks would serve as an enduring deterrent. The officials also expect the president will lift the US naval blockade on Iran's ports if Tehran fully reopens the strait. Trump is patient and expected to ride out the latest diplomatic snarl, especially while gas prices remain stable. A White House official said the US has completed all military objectives against Iran, and the focus is on securing the flow of the world's energy through the Strait of Hormuz, keeping military options on the table. However, Iran's IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr announced on Friday that the strait will not reopen until the US corrects its behavior, listing six conditions: ending all aggression against Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Palestine; never verbally threatening Iran; lifting the naval blockade and withdrawing all naval and air forces; paying for damages of the wars against Iran; lifting all sanctions; and releasing all frozen Iranian assets. Trump spoke optimistically about the end of the war, saying 'I think it's going to end pretty soon' and that the strait is 'sort of open right now.'