The Hormuz Breakthrough? Secret "Phased Deal" Emerges as Mediators Race to Avert Total War
Diplomatic breakthrough? Sources tell CNN that U.S.-Iran gaps are narrowing despite Trump's frustration. A new phased plan focuses on opening the Strait of Hormuz immediately, while the nuclear issue is pushed to later talks to avoid a permanent Middle East military standoff.
Despite public reports of President Trump’s growing frustration, senior sources told CNN on Tuesday that the divide between Washington and Tehran is not as wide as it seems. Intensive diplomatic efforts are currently focused on a phased outline designed to de-escalate the two-month-old conflict.
According to the report, the immediate priority for mediators is:
The "Kim Jong Un" Comparison
The diplomatic push comes at a critical juncture. Aaron David Miller, a former State Department Middle East envoy, told Fox News that the Trump administration may have miscalculated the nature of the Iranian leadership.
"Trump was looking for an Iranian version of Delcy Rodríguez, but it is more likely he has found an Iranian Kim Jong Un," Miller noted, suggesting that Tehran remains unwilling to make the sweeping concessions Washington expects despite two months of lethal airstrikes and a crushing oil blockade.
Avoid "No War, No Peace"
Top advisors to President Trump are currently recommending against a renewal of active military strikes, according to Axios. Instead, they are urging a strategy of:
The administration’s primary concern is avoiding a protracted "no war, no peace" scenario. Such a stalemate would force the Pentagon to maintain a massive, permanent military presence in the Middle East, a situation the Trump administration is eager to avoid.
Crisis at the Strait
The humanitarian and economic toll of the standoff continues to mount. Iranian media has released footage showing dozens of vessels anchored near the Strait of Hormuz, with approximately 20,000 sailors currently stranded at sea.
With 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually flowing through this chokepoint, mediators are under immense pressure to finalize a deal within the coming days to prevent a total global energy paralysis.