Trump May Need to Compromise with Iran on Strait of Hormuz Deal

President Donald Trump faces pressure to reach a deal with Iran that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil normally flows. Iran insists on measures that would give it control over the strait, including the possibility of charging fees, while the Trump administration has so far ruled out any arrangement that would cement Tehran’s grip.

Experts say a compromise would be out of character for Trump. Former State Department counselor Eliot Cohen warned that conceding would make the president appear a loser, while former senior official David Schenker suggested that mounting economic pressure and rising gasoline prices could push Trump toward a concession despite political risks ahead of the November midterms. Trump has defended the U.S. military’s weapons stockpiles and threatened jail time for alleged leakers, but has not indicated any willingness to yield on the Hormuz issue.