Middle East crisis live: Trump claims Iran ‘begging to make a deal’ and has let some tankers through strait as a ‘present’ - The Guardian

President Trump claimed Iran is "begging to make a deal" and has allowed some oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a gesture of goodwill. The assertion suggests a potential shift in U.S.-Iran relations after years of escalating tensions and sanctions under Trump's first term and the Biden administration. Control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies, has been a flashpoint in U.S.-Iran hostilities, with Iran periodically blocking or threatening to block passage. Trump's comments indicate he may be pursuing direct negotiations with Tehran rather than maintaining maximum pressure. The claim has not been independently verified and comes amid broader Middle East instability.