Donald Trump on Sunday outlined what he called a 'deal with the devil' peace plan with Iran, unveiling a proposed 10‑point agreement that he claims would end the Iran war, trigger a two‑week ceasefire in the region and ultimately generate a $1 trillion windfall for the United States.
The president has long cast himself as a master dealmaker on the world stage, often promising sweeping bargains that combine security guarantees with economic gain. His latest Iran peace plan, as described by political allies and foreign policy commentators, attempts to tie a cessation of hostilities to a far‑reaching economic scheme centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for global oil supplies.
According to retired Army Maj Gen Paul Vallely, who has been briefed on the discussions, Trump is relying heavily on what he calls psychological operations to pressure Tehran into accepting terms. Vallely, a vocal supporter of the president, described Trump as 'the ultimate negotiator' and argued that his habit of making aggressive public threats is intentional theatre rather than reckless escalation.
'He'll threaten and say, 'We are going to do this and that',' Vallely said, adding that the rhetoric is designed to unsettle Iran's leadership. In his view, the posture has forced the Iranian regime to the table while allowing US forces 'to rest a little bit' as the talks proceed.
At the centre of Trump's proposed Iran peace plan is the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly a fifth of the world's oil shipments pass through the narrow waterway, and whoever controls it wields enormous leverage over energy markets.
Sources familiar with the outline say the plan would allow Iran to maintain formal control over the strait, but only under a heavily monetised framework. Commercial ships passing through would be required to notify intermediary firms linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, disclosing their cargo, destination and ownership. On top of that, every vessel would pay a toll of at least $1 million, not in dollars but in Chinese yuan or the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
Trump has reportedly floated the idea of turning that toll regime into a kind of joint venture, with Washington sharing in the revenues. He has privately described the prospective arrangement as a 'beautiful thing,' according to those close to the talks.
Supporters of the concept frame it almost as a reimbursement scheme. After decades of US military deployments in the Gulf, they argue, Trump wants America compensated for the cost of protecting what is effectively a global shipping lifeline.
'Nobody else is going to be [spending] money like we are to make sure [the strait remains] open and safe, so why shouldn't we get paid some money back for a period of time?' Vallely said.
The sums being bandied about are striking. By some internal estimates, Trump allies say, the toll system could eventually channel as much as $1 trillion into US coffers, although no public documentation has been released to substantiate the figure. Nothing is confirmed yet, so any projected windfall should be taken with a grain of salt.
Source: International Business Times UK
