Iranian officials privately told advisers to former President Trump that they made a mistake in shooting at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks were attributed to an "errant" sect of hardliners attempting to undermine ongoing negotiations, and Iran expressed a desire to continue talks, according to senior U.S. officials.

The White House has called for Iran to publicly acknowledge the mistake, viewing the attacks as a violation of the ceasefire. President Trump has tasked a negotiation team—including Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—to pursue continued dialogue.

Officials warned that the U.S. will respond with military and economic measures if Iran persists in hostile actions. Following a meeting in Oman, the administration expects Iran to commit to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and managed as before the conflict. One official stated, "If that is not their position, it's not going to be a great day for them."

A U.S. official described the situation as "definitely in a wait-and-see moment." Another official noted that Iran was surprised by the rapid movement of traffic, especially oil and gas shipments through the southern lane, which led to their reneging on prior commitments.

Regarding Iran's nuclear program remnants, referred to as "nuclear dust," U.S. officials prefer to excavate them but indicated alternative options exist if Iran refuses to cooperate. One official emphasized that if Iran cannot honor the simplest part of the deal—opening the strait to trade—negotiations on more complex issues like the nuclear program will not proceed.

Notable Quotes

  • "They came back to the table and said, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking.'"
  • "It's not going to be a great day for them."
  • "We're definitely in a wait-and-see moment."
  • "The remnants of Iran's nuclear program, the officials said the U.S. would prefer to excavate it, but if Iran refuses to act like a [normal country], there are other options."

Sources