Trump’s Shifting Rhetoric and Strategy in the Six-Month Iran War

President Donald Trump instructed his senior envoys—including Vice President J.D. —to end negotiations, the same day he posted a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “US Territory,” and in a separate Oval Office interview warned that “if Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the sh*t out of them.” U.S. officials confirmed the halt followed a brief period of “positive discussions,” but Trump remained unsatisfied with Iran’s willingness to meet his demands.

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The conflict began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February 2024, prompting Iranian missile attacks on regional allies, including the United Arab Emirates. A cease-fire signed in June collapsed, and the United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports while seeking to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit that remains “a trickle” of traffic under frequent Iranian fire.

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• June 16 – Trump praised Iranian leaders as “very rational people” at the G7 summit in France.

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• April 7 – Trump claimed negotiations were “very far along” and would be finalized in two weeks.

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• April 8 – Trump described a proposed joint venture to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as “a beautiful thing.”

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• April 17 – Trump told CBS News that Iran had “agreed to everything” the United States demanded.

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• May 2024 – Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it interfered with U.S. plans.

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• Early July – White House officials announced the cessation of talks and reaffirmed the naval blockade.

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Multiple July 2024 polls show a steep decline in Trump’s approval:

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• Reuters/Ipsos surveyed 1,166 adults in mid-August, finding 33 % approval and 64 % disapproval.

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• Financial Times/Focaldata poll of 1,913 registered voters (early August) recorded 35 % approval and 55 % disapproval.

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• Nate Silver’s poll tracker listed a net approval of –20.6 % (38 % approval, 58.8 % disapproval).

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• AP-NORC poll of 1,165 adults (late July) showed 33 % approval, eight points below President Biden’s 36 % at the same time.

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• Quinnipiac University poll (late July) reported a 32 % approval rating, the lowest ever for the firm’s tracking of Trump.

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Across the surveys, 80 % of respondents—87 % of Democrats and 71 % of Republicans—believe U.S. involvement is necessary.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed that U.S. forces are prepared to enforce the blockade “into perpetuity.” U.S. officials indicated that new sanctions on Iran could be announced “as early as this week.”

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Omani officials, historically a U.S. partner, denied any plan to impede American operations.

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U.S. military leaders cited strain on deployed assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier, and noted shortages of advanced munitions after six months of combat.

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• Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz – Trump’s social-media post claimed the waterway is “open and operating,” yet multiple sources describe traffic as a “trickle” with ships still under fire.

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• Public opinion figures – Approval percentages vary across polls; the reasons for these differences are not fully explained in the source material.

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• Oman’s role – Some U.S. officials view Oman as a potential conduit for Iranian influence, while Omani officials maintain a neutral stance; the precise terms of the proposed deal remain undisclosed.

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U.S. administration’s next public move will likely hinge on whether Iran shows renewed willingness to negotiate or escalates attacks on shipping in the Hormuz corridor.

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