The bulk carrier Adventure at the port of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on May 6, 2026. (Credit: Amr Alfiky/Reuters)
BEIRUT — Over the past two months, the U.S. military has gradually weakened Tehran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route that has been Iran’s strongest leverage since the war began in late February, according to U.S. officials cited by Axios.
What began six months ago with the goal of degrading Iran’s missile capabilities and destroying what remained of its nuclear program has evolved into an open-ended fight over the world’s most important energy chokepoint, the news site reports.
U.S. officials say they have turned the tide in the strait and believe it could mark a major turning point in the war, potentially bringing gradual relief to the global economy while giving Washington greater leverage to secure a better deal with Iran.
“That sucker is open. The Iranian response is very mild. They don’t want us to go back at them. That’s the whole ball game. The rest doesn’t matter,” President Donald Trump told Axios in a phone interview on Thursday.
Two regional sources told Axios that Iran has shown renewed interest in negotiations in recent days.
The commander of the Pakistani army visited Tehran on Sunday in an attempt to revive mediation between the U.S. and Iran, followed later in the week by Oman’s foreign minister, who traveled to Tehran to discuss the Strait of Hormuz.
On Thursday, Qatar’s prime minister, a key mediator between Iran and the U.S., arrived in Tehran for talks at Iran’s request, according to the sources.
At least publicly, Iran has maintained its position, demanding that the U.S. implement the June 17 memorandum of understanding and provide terms for reopening the strait.
