President Donald Trump has vowed dozens of times that an agreement to end the war that began in February is near, only for none to materialize so far. The primary US objectives are to reopen Hormuz strait to maritime traffic, and curb Iran’s nuclear program. Iran insists on retaining a degree of control over the waterway and gaining immediate access to its frozen funds, while negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment would take place after the interim deal is signed.