President Donald Trump announced Saturday that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is near, but a top ally in Congress raised red flags about the implications for the balance of power in the Persian Gulf.
In a social media post, Trump said he spoke with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.
“An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed,” he wrote, adding he had a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Final details are being discussed and will be announced soon, but the deal would allow the Strait of Hormuz to be opened, among other provisions, Trump said.
Ahead of the announcement, reports said a deal to extend the ceasefire by 60 days would include Iran gradually reopening the strait and agreeing to discuss its uranium stockpile.
In return, the U.S. would ease its naval blockade while phasing in sanctions relief as well as the unfreezing Iranian assets held overseas.
But Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned against a deal that would effectively recognize Tehran’s ability to control the strait.
“If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected from Iranian terrorism and Iran still possesses the capability to destroy major Gulf oil infrastructure, then Iran will be perceived as being a dominate [sic] force requiring a diplomatic solution,” he posted on X just before Trump’s announcement.
Such a perception would represent a major shift in the regional balance of power and eventually become a “nightmare” for Israel, he added.
“Also, it makes one wonder why the war started to begin with if these perceptions are accurate,” Graham said. “I personally am a skeptic of the idea that Iran cannot be denied the ability to terrorize the Strait and the region cannot protect itself against Iranian military capability. It is important we get this right.”
Similarly, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., warned on Saturday that reports of 60-day ceasefire extension would be a disaster and that “Everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught!”
On Friday, he urged Trump to renew hostilities in the Iran war and open the Strait of Hormuz by force, saying the president is getting bad advice.
“Our commander-in-chief needs to allow America’s skilled armed forces to finish the destruction of Iran’s conventional military capabilities and reopen the strait,” Wicker posted on X. “Further pursuit of an agreement with Iran’s Islamist regime risks a perception of weakness. We must finish what we started. It is past time for action.”
