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That creates an entirely new negotiating battlefield.
Instead of simply discussing a ceasefire or the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the parties could end up arguing over financial claims dating back decades.
Those claims are politically powerful.
They are also extraordinarily difficult to resolve.
The Long History Behind the Argument
Trump’s references to Iranian responsibility stretch far beyond the current conflict.
The United States has long accused Iran and Iran-backed organizations of involvement in attacks that killed or injured American personnel.
Among the incidents cited by the U.S. government are the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia and attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.
The Trump administration argues that Iran should bear financial responsibility for losses connected with those conflicts.
Iran, meanwhile, argues that the United States and Israel have caused enormous destruction inside Iran during the current conflict.
Each side therefore sees itself as having legitimate claims against the other.
That creates a major obstacle to diplomacy.
A negotiation becomes much harder when both parties believe the other owes them compensation.
Iran’s Position
Iran has not simply accepted Trump’s demands.
Tehran has its own list of conditions.
The Strait of Hormuz is at the center of many of them.
Iranian officials have argued that reopening the waterway cannot be separated from broader questions concerning compensation, sanctions and the future security relationship between Iran and the United States.
Recent reporting has also indicated that Iran has been discussing arrangements involving Oman concerning the waterway. Those discussions have been described as separate from a comprehensive U.S.-Iran peace agreement.
That distinction is important.
A temporary arrangement allowing safer passage through Hormuz would not necessarily mean that Washington and Tehran had solved their larger disagreements.
It could simply provide breathing room.
And breathing room may be exactly what both sides need.
Trump Says the United States Can Escalate
While emphasizing negotiations, Trump has not abandoned the military option.
Speaking recently about Iran, Trump said the United States retains the ability to escalate its actions.
His message was essentially that diplomacy remains available, but Washington is not without alternatives if negotiations fail.
This dual approach has characterized Trump’s handling of the conflict.
He has repeatedly threatened severe consequences while also expressing optimism that a deal can be reached.
To supporters, that is strategic pressure.
To critics, it can appear unpredictable.
Either way, the message is clear:
Trump wants Iran to believe that refusing a deal carries significant consequences.
The Problem With “Breaking News” Headlines
This is where the viral headline deserves careful attention.
“BREAKING: TRUMP ANNOUNCES THAT IRAN HAS…”
What has Iran actually done?
Has Tehran agreed to a deal?
Has it agreed to reopen Hormuz?
Has it accepted American demands?
Has it surrendered its nuclear ambitions?
Has it agreed to compensation?
The truncated headline does not tell readers.
That is precisely why readers should be cautious.
The latest verified reporting does not establish a brand-new Iranian capitulation matching every sensational version of this headline.
Instead, it shows that negotiations remain complicated and that both sides continue to make demands.
There Has Already Been a Deal Announcement
One reason these headlines can be confusing is that major announcements have already occurred during the conflict.
In June, Trump announced that a deal with Iran had been completed and authorized the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and removal of the U.S. naval blockade.
But subsequent events demonstrated how difficult implementation could be.
Iran and the United States continued to disagree about the terms and sequencing of the agreement.
Later negotiations again became uncertain.
This history is important because it demonstrates that a presidential announcement does not necessarily mean every part of an agreement has immediately been implemented on the ground.
In a complicated international negotiation, announcements can be followed by disputes over interpretation, enforcement and timing.
Diplomacy Has Been Stop-and-Start
The pattern has repeated throughout the conflict.
One day, Trump suggests negotiations are close.
The next day, Iranian officials deny that a final agreement exists.
One side announces progress.
The other side emphasizes unresolved differences.
Then mediators step in.
Oman has played an important role in facilitating communications.
Pakistan has also been involved in diplomatic efforts.
Other regional governments have attempted to encourage a settlement.
The result has been a diplomatic process that repeatedly appears to move forward and backward.
That does not necessarily mean diplomacy is failing.
It can also mean the two sides are negotiating over extremely difficult issues.
Why Nuclear Weapons Remain Central
The nuclear issue remains one of Washington’s most important concerns.
Trump has repeatedly said Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
That position has been a central component of the conflict.
Iran has historically insisted that its nuclear activities are peaceful, while the United States and its allies have expressed concerns about the potential for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
The disagreement becomes especially difficult because nuclear capabilities cannot simply be discussed in isolation.
Missile programs, enrichment, inspections, sanctions and regional security all become part of the broader negotiation.
Washington wants restrictions that it believes will permanently prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon.
Tehran wants guarantees that it will not be permanently subjected to economic pressure while surrendering strategic capabilities.
Those objectives are difficult to reconcile.
The Economic Stakes Are Enormous
The conflict isn’t only about military strategy.
It is also about money.