US may drop demands on Iran; Trump reportedly considering withdrawal

President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to announce a victory in the war with Iran and is considering dropping demands for Tehran to end its nuclear program, according to the Times of Israel, citing the Times of Israel. Trump had previously insisted that any agreement to end the war must include guarantees that Iran would abandon its nuclear ambitions.

However, Trump recently informed his advisors that he believes the Islamic Republic would face significant difficulties restarting its nuclear program. This assessment stems from the U.S. military's 12-day war in June 2025, which reportedly destroyed Iran's three main nuclear facilities. The Wall Street Journal, citing Trump administration officials, reported that the president believes Iran cannot reactivate its nuclear program without U.S. intelligence detecting it.

Trump has suggested he is open to ending the war without a nuclear agreement, provided the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. He indicated he would maintain the ceasefire in the conflict if this condition is met. However, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared the strait will remain closed until the U.S. meets Iran's demands.

Tehran is demanding war reparations, the lifting of sanctions, an end to the blockade of Iranian ports, and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region. The Revolutionary Guard stated that as long as "the enemy does not meet the conditions, Hormuz is no longer just a sea lane, but a theater of war."