Trump Reportedly Weighs Leaving Hormuz Negotiations to Gulf States

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering leaving Gulf countries to negotiate with Iran over the operation of the Strait of Hormuz. The report published November 14 cited a person familiar with the matter who said Trump believes oil shipments through the strait are close to their prewar levels. Two Middle Eastern diplomats described uncertainty over the negotiations following Trump's conflicting statements. One questioned the removal of Vice President JD Vance from the talks, while the other described a waiting period as mediators sought clarity on the White House's intentions. In a November 12 post, Trump said he had asked Vance to concentrate on alleged domestic corruption. Trump wrote: “We don’t need a deal with Iran.” Qatar had publicly described continued mediation on November 10. Foreign Ministry official Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi said consultations involved Tehran, regional countries and international partners, with the aim of restoring freedom of navigation through Hormuz. He said Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani had met Vance in Washington on Monday and then met Trump behind closed doors at the White House. The discussions covered regional developments and progress in the U.S.–Iran negotiations. Al Hashmi said details would be disclosed once an agreement's final form was settled.