Trump says he and 'the ayatollah' can share control of Strait of Hormuz

Former US President Donald Trump suggested that he and Iran's 'ayatollah' could jointly control the Strait of Hormuz, a major de-escalatory statement amid a hypothetical US-Israeli war on Iran. Any US recognition of an Iranian sphere of influence over the strategic waterway would be a significant concession to Tehran. This comes after Iran effectively took control of the strait, attacking numerous vessels and disrupting global trade, thereby turning the tables on the US. While Iran denied direct dialogue, it acknowledged regional efforts to reduce tensions, and the Trump administration had already lifted sanctions on Iranian oil at sea to ease energy price pressures.