Trump Seeks Exit from Iran War as Strait Demands Rise; Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Plan

The Trump administration is seeking a face-saving exit from the Iran war, but Tehran's hardline demands, including billions in payments and full troop withdrawal, have made that difficult. A Wall Street Journal report reveals Trump had hoped Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a US drawdown, but Iran's insistence on maximal conditions has dashed those hopes. The Pentagon has issued a 21-day demand to defense contractors for accelerated weapons production, though experts note the impossibility of such rapid scaling. Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected a US-backed 15-point Gaza peace plan, insisting on full Hamas disarmament before any withdrawal. Iran continues to strike tankers in the Strait, and Houthi forces have attacked Saudi Aramco facilities. Oil prices remain below triple digits, puzzling analysts who expected a supply crisis, with some suggesting data on global inventories was incomplete. The US Navy's aircraft carriers are reportedly kept out of range of Iranian missiles due to vulnerability, as noted by military analyst Larry Wilkerson.