How Trump’s Iran War Could End Tomorrow — If He Had Any Interest in Peace

The Trump administration’s manufactured conflict with Iran is spiraling into a costly stalemate with no clear American interests at stake. According to Defense Priorities Policy Director Ben Friedman, the strangulation of the Strait of Hormuz — the lifeline for global oil shipments — is the only tangible problem the U.S. has created in this war. Yet even that could be resolved quickly if the administration were willing to cut a deal.

Iran has reportedly proposed reopening the strait if the U.S. ends its blockade and agrees to defer broader nuclear negotiations for now. Friedman argues this is exactly the kind of pragmatic deal the U.S. should accept. Instead, Trump’s choice to bomb Iran last year, before negotiations could bear fruit, has made the prospect of a nuclear agreement much harder to achieve. But that’s not the real issue — Iran’s nuclear program was severely damaged in U.S. strikes and is far from producing a weapon. The Trump administration’s obsession with ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional proxies is similarly misplaced, Friedman says. These are deterrents Iran will not give up, and trying to force the issue only prolongs conflict.

If the U.S. refuses Iran’s offer or Iran fails to follow through, Friedman says the best course is for Washington to simply walk away. Iran might impose tariffs on shipping through the strait, hurting global markets and U.S. principles of free navigation, but the oil will flow again. Continuing the war, Friedman warns, is the worst option by far.

The biggest obstacle to peace, Friedman notes, is Israel. The Trump administration has been unwilling to pressure its closest Middle East ally, which undermines any chance of a lasting deal. Without credible threats to Israeli provocations, the risk of renewed conflict remains high. Gulf states like the UAE may push for a harder line, but they lack the capacity to fight Iran independently and will likely follow Washington’s lead.

The Iran war exposes the limits of Trump’s strategic air power and his reckless approach to foreign policy. The U.S. has failed to achieve its goals and only strengthened Iranian resolve and missile capabilities. The administration’s refusal to pursue diplomacy and its blind support for Israel’s regional aggression are fueling a dangerous cycle of escalation.

Ending this war is simple: accept Iran’s offer, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and postpone contentious nuclear talks. But that would require Trump to abandon his warmongering and prioritize peace over political distraction. Until then, the U.S. drags itself deeper into a conflict that serves no one but the hawks and profiteers.