The United States and Iran are nearing an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil transport, according to Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. The potential deal follows a series of escalating demands from US President Donald Trump, who has called for Iran to compensate the US for past attacks and civilian casualties.
Trump demands reparations as negotiations progress
On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran should pay compensation for Americans killed or wounded in conflicts dating back decades, including the 2000 USS Cole bombing, which the US has attributed to al Qaeda. He also demanded payments to families of protesters allegedly killed by Iranian security forces. "With respect to the Iran negotiations, Iran should be responsible for the damages and death caused to the people of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza!" Trump wrote. Rights groups have documented Iran’s crackdown on dissent during recent conflicts, though the US has not previously raised these demands in formal negotiations.
Iran has maintained that the US must meet conditions, including lifting sanctions and halting military threats, before reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, through which 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas once flowed, has been effectively blocked since late February amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran, driving up oil prices and inflation.
Context and reactions
Trump framed the strikes as efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence, though critics argue the conflict has deepened regional instability. Political commentator Bill O’Reilly defended Trump’s approach, stating that the president is not "flailing" but must inflict "more pain on Iran than Iran is inflicting on the world." O’Reilly suggested that destroying Iran’s infrastructure, including nuclear sites, may be necessary to force concessions.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei indicated ongoing talks with Oman to define new shipping lanes through the strait, though no final pact has been confirmed. The US has not publicly linked these talks to Trump’s compensation demands.
Health study sparks debate over dairy consumption
Separately, a study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that adults consuming three servings of full-fat dairy daily for 12 weeks experienced no negative effects on weight, cholesterol, or insulin resistance. Researchers noted improvements in blood pressure and increased intake of calcium, protein, and vitamin D. The findings challenge decades of dietary guidelines favoring low-fat dairy, though experts caution that the study does not prove full-fat dairy is universally healthier.
Registered dietitian Jessica Corwin emphasized that the results undermine assumptions that full-fat dairy worsens heart health but do not conclusively resolve the debate. The study was funded by the Dairy Research Cluster 3 under Canada’s AgriScience Program.