By MANISH ANAND
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the prospect of sanctions relief could hand Iran its biggest economic breakthrough in decades, raising questions about whether Trump’s military campaign achieved its strategic goals.
- Trump’s Iran deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and unlock frozen Iranian assets.
- Critics argue Tehran may have achieved its biggest strategic objective: re-entering the global economy without regime change.
- Analysts say the US demonstrated military dominance but may have struggled to convert battlefield gains into lasting political outcomes.
New Delhi, June 15, 2026 — US President Donald Trump had entered the Iran War theatre with guns blazing. Playing a partnership with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump administration had hoped for a swift regime change in Tehran, possibly emboldened with Venezuelan capture of power after the “arrest” of Nicholas Maduro. On the day, Trump celebrated his birthday, he announced a deal with Iran that has rattled Israel, while inviting comments from former US diplomats that “Iran may have scored a strategic victory.”
The cornerstone of Trump’s congratulatory message on the US-Iran deal is the reopening of the Hormuz Strait. Lifting of the American blockade comes alongside per the deal brokered by Pakistan. Both conditions were missing until the US and Israel attacked Iran in April this year.
But Iran had been under American sanctions for extended period of time even before the military conflicts unfolded. The Iranian economy per reports was in dire straits. The people were rebellious because of the economy having collapsed.
In the aftermath of the US-Iran deal, Tehran will begin unlocking the economic potential. Assets frozen for decades will be gradually given back to Iran per leaked reports on the deal. Iranian oil will hit the international markets. Tehran may look for more buyers than just China.
In sum, the Iranian economy in gradual manner can aim to compete with the Arabian nations as Tehran begins to pump oil and gas into the international markets. The economy that revives can knock out the people’s basic grievance. The regime stays.
“The world needs the strait of Hormuz reopened… should have happened months ago, but today’s outcome is the best option available. Having said that, Iran war has been a disaster. No agreement on nukes, ballistic missiles, support for proxies…and one of the world’s most brutal regimes remains in place…and is getting paid off,” wrote Ian Bremmer, a well-known American political commentator and president of the Eurasia group.
Bremmer nailed Trumpism with his brutal verdict. “(This is) biggest foreign policy failure of trump administration by a long margin,” he added.
With the US Mid-Term approaching and affordability crisis deepening, Trump seemed in a hurry to free Washington from the Iran-Israel conflict knot. In Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military chief, Trump found an ally who worked out the deal.
“If Trump and Netanyahu implement the deal, they lose. If they do not implement the deal, they lose. If they don’t implement the deal, the global economy goes over the cliff,” wrote Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Iran’s top television commentator, on X.
Iran had given commitment on limiting or giving up nuclear ambitions in 2015 also when P5 nations had worked out the deal. Eleven years later, Trump may have just help Iran achieve the biggest ambition — a place in the global mainstream economy without any American sanctions.
Iran ‘Strategically Won’ Despite US Military Success: Ex-Diplomat
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