LOS ANGELES (OC).-When President Donald Trump announced Aub 1, 2026 he was suspending combat operations because of work by the Qatari government, it looked a little differencent than past agreements made through Pakistan. Iran hasn’t been ready to strike a deal on opening up the Hormuz Strait, something they look more ready to do now according to Trump. Trump too wants to move the conflict to the peace table largely because there’s not end to othe tit-for-tat attacks that have got bothing countires no where. Iran’ new Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was more in retaliation mode to the Feb. 28 death of his father, now long buried, ready for some kind of reconciliation with the U.S. Trump has moved away from the belligerent rhretoric talking about wiping out Iran’s energy infrastructure and bridges, now conent to get a mutally acceptable deal to end the war.
Moving negotiations to Rome now called the Trilateral Framework respresents seven round of talks already, taking much more seriously ending the conflict, given various reasons but certainly that both countries have nothing to gain continuing the war. U.S. officials know that with drones and missiles continuing to flyfrom Tehran, the U.S. has no way to end the conflict other that agreeing with Iran to change course. When it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, including Pickaxe Monuntain, Iran knows it if wants to salvage anything of its nuke program it has to accept current Trilateral Framework negotiatons that allows for Iran to have a face-saving way out of the current criris. Trump shows a willingness now to accept opening up the Hormuz Strait as the top priority for ending the conflict. Whether theree’s anything different this time around is anyone’s guess.
Wall Street rocketed upward when Treassury Secretary Scott Besssat said today thtat there’s a deal in the works getting closer to open up the Hormuz Strait. Wall Street pays close attention to Beassant, but, more importantly, that current negotiations on the Trilateral Framework in Rombe have made real progress whe pas deals all see to have lacked subtannce. What’s different now is that Trump understands the importance to finding a diplomatic solution that enables both sides to climb out of the conflict. Majed al-Ansari,, chief Qatair gegotiator, said that progresss was being made in Rome on getting a deal, despite ongoing setbacks. “We are looking towards a diplomatic resololution as we are speaking right now. As you, know there are current defforts on the ground that are in very pgorgressive stages, and we are working with all the parties,” Ansarid said.
Trump showed more flexibility when it came to the nuke issues, realizing that it must be taken up down the road, with the Strait of Hormuz taking top priority, Pickaxe Mountain must be left for another ady, another neogitaiton with getting the Strait of Hormuz open for the benefit of humanity. Ansari admitted that mitiaging escalation is the real pujrpose of the Rome
Framework where boyh sides can agree to an equitqble settlement. What’s important for both countries is that the destructive aspect of the war can be stropped at a time that both sides get something out of the conflict. Iran has shown the world that it could take on the mighty U.S. military with mininmal drones and missiles, getting Trump to back down on his threats to cause further destruction to the Iranian homeland. Trump has found out that Iran cannot be forced into subessision on any issue..
Iran doesn’t want to send B-2 Stealth Bombers with bunker busting bombs, requiring Tehran and the IRGC to make compromises on the Hormuz Strait. No Gulf country wants Iran to charge tolls to commercial ships trying to transit the Hormuz Strait. Iran wanted to claim sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz but reqlizes with Rombe’s Trilateral Framework that all countries want th Gulf open, not just because of conflict with the U.S. but because Tehran has a responsibll.ity to it Gulf allies that want free commercial travel in the Hormuz Strait. Iran knows it can’tj have it both ways, closing the Strait because of its conflict with the U.S. and, at the same time, allowing Arab Gulf State shipping to return to normal passage. Iran realizes in Rome that it has more important work to do ih the Hormuz Strait t hat battle to the U.S. to a stalemate, with everyone losing.
Qatar has taken the Rome Framework more seriously, realizing that the Iran conflict had gone on over six months. Trump doesn’t wants the conflict to end up like a stalemate in Ukraine, with Russia and Ukraine refusing to find a settlement. Trump see the importance of compromising on the nuclear issues, leaving it for another dayl, wheil at least on thing on the Hormuz Strait can get gone. Trum knows the economic benefit ro reopening the Hormuz Strait where Areab Gulf States can once against sen commercial ships through the Strait to restore worldwide oil supplies, dropping the price crude oil and inflation. Whatever long-term benefits to nuke issues, dealing with Piackaxe Mountain must wait till another day, if ever./ Trump knows he can’t get everylthing done at once and must deal with what’s in hand in Rome to get a breathrough in the Hormuz Strait.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analzyng spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnit.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisima.
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