Iran issues new demands as Trump signals he wants out of the Iran war
Trump appears to be looking for an exit from the Iran war, but fresh Iranian demands and a shrinking US oil reserve make a clean deal look unlikely.
- Trump has privately said he's willing to walk away without a nuclear deal, claiming Iran can't rebuild its program after last year's strikes on three key sites.
- His only real goal now is reopening the Strait of Hormuz and getting out, a big climb-down from the war's stated purpose.
- Iran has raised the stakes with steep new demands: end the war for good, lift the naval blockade, pull all forces out, drop sanctions, release frozen funds, and pay for war damages.
- The US emergency oil reserve has fallen below 300 million barrels for the first time since 1983, adding pressure at home alongside high inflation.
- Trump's approval has sunk to 32%, with support slipping even among his core supporters.
Outlook: A deal looks far off as Iran's demands and Israel's refusal to pull back from Lebanon and Gaza keep the conflict alive.