President Donald Trump is considering whether to announce the lifting of the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz before a May 31 deadline, following months of military operations and diplomatic engagement with Iran.
On April 27, the White House confirmed that Trump and his top aides discussed an Iranian proposal to reopen the strait, according to CNBC. Iran offered to restore shipping through the waterway if the United States lifts the blockade and ends hostilities, setting aside nuclear negotiations for later.
Trump on May 6 announced a temporary halt in the U.S. military's "Project Freedom" operation to reopen the strait, citing "great progress" toward a potential agreement with Iran, according to NPR and Wikipedia. The operation had aimed to clear the key oil transit chokepoint that Iran effectively closed earlier in the conflict.
On May 27, Iranian state television reported that Tehran would open the Strait of Hormuz within a month if terms are agreed, according to U.S. News. A Reuters photo from May 25 showed vessels anchored at the strait near Musandam, Oman, underscoring the continued disruption to global shipping.
The president's decision deadline arrives May 31. The outcome rests on whether the two sides finalize terms in the remaining hours.
