Trump Weighs Shifting Iran Strait of Hormuz Talks to Gulf States
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering delegating negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf states, citing perceived progress and reduced necessity for military action. This follows a period of mixed signals from Trump regarding Iran, including positive comments after meeting Qatar's PM and a subsequent social media post indicating the U.S. no longer needed a deal. The situation remains uncertain, with diplomats expressing confusion over Trump's intentions and potential consequences for regional stability and Israeli security.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- President Trump may delegate Iran Strait of Hormuz talks to Gulf states, according to AP.
- Trump stated military action in Iran did not seem necessary, but incidents continue.
- Trump will meet Putin and Xi at APEC summit, discussing Iran and arms control.
- Mixed signals from Trump have created uncertainty regarding ongoing Iran negotiations.
- Analysts warn a U.S. withdrawal could empower Iran and isolate Israel.
Following the midterm elections, U.S. President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals regarding continued engagement with Iran. A new AP report suggests Trump may prefer to delegate negotiations over activity in the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf states. An anonymous source familiar with the matter indicated Trump believes oil shipments in the strait are nearing pre-conflict levels and that he can declare military objectives met. Trump stated earlier in the week that military action in Iran did not seem "very necessary right now," though the situation on the ground is more complex. UN data shows October had the highest number of incidents against merchant ships in the strait since February, and passage remains risky.
The White House confirmed Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China. Discussions are expected to include nuclear arms reduction, and Trump intends to raise the issue of Iran. Trump is also planning a separate meeting with Xi but not with Putin.
Trump's fluctuating stance began earlier in the week after meeting with the Prime Minister of Qatar, after which he suggested major strikes against Iran were unlikely and the conflict was "effectively over" militarily. Middle Eastern diplomats suggested Qatari mediation efforts were progressing positively following this meeting. However, by Thursday, Trump posted on social media that the U.S. no longer needed a deal with Iran and directed Vice President J.D. Vance, who led previous talks, to focus domestically. This post came a day after The Wall Street Journal reported Vance was considering a direct meeting with Iranian officials. One source indicated Trump believes the Iranians are not negotiating in good faith.
Middle Eastern diplomats described the negotiation process as uncertain due to Trump's contradictory statements. One questioned Vance's removal from the talks, while another stated negotiations are on hold pending clarification of U.S. intentions. Secretary of State Rubio commented that economic pressure on Iran is so intense that military action is unnecessary.
Military and security analyst Ron Ben-Yishai noted in his column that a bad deal with Iran could grant Tehran benefits to rebuild its dangerous capabilities and allow the U.S. president to claim victory before withdrawing U.S. forces. Such an American withdrawal, he warned, would be a severe ideological defeat for the U.S. and Israel, undermine deterrence, and potentially make Iran a regional power, leaving Israel isolated and possibly constrained from independent action. In a recent interview, Trump did not rule out a return to strikes, stating the U.S. military is ready and would act if necessary. Democratic Senator Cory Booker criticized Trump's foreign policy approach.
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