Philip Gordon Urges Iran Payoff to Reopen Hormuz and Freeze Nuclear Work After 13,000 U.S. Strikes
Updated
Updated · Foreign Policy · Jul 23
Philip Gordon Urges Iran Payoff to Reopen Hormuz and Freeze Nuclear Work After 13,000 U.S. Strikes
1 articles · Updated · Foreign Policy · Jul 23
Summary
Philip Gordon argues the least-bad exit from Trump’s Iran war is significant economic relief for Tehran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, halting attacks on shipping and neighbors, and freezing its nuclear program.
More bombing would not solve the crisis, he says: the United States has already hit more than 13,000 targets, yet Iran still retains thousands of missiles and drones able to keep Hormuz shut from its own territory.
Gordon contends escalation—from attacks on civilian infrastructure to seizing Kharg Island—would raise U.S. risks, invite strikes on Gulf energy sites and Red Sea shipping, and heighten the threat of inflation, market turmoil and global recession.
His proposed deal would be temporary and conditional, with no enrichment, intelligence monitoring of buried nuclear material, and cancellation if Iran resumed suspected weapons-related activity.
Longer term, he says Washington should cut reliance on Hormuz by backing alternative routes and energy sources, citing Gulf pipeline plans for 4 million additional barrels per day on top of 5 million already rerouted.
Could offering major economic relief to Tehran stabilize global shipping, or will it merely fund the next wave of regional attacks?
As oil prices soar past $100, can secret Doha talks prevent the Strait of Hormuz crisis from triggering a catastrophic global recession?
With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, will the desperate scramble for alternative pipelines save the global energy grid before markets collapse?
Choked at Hormuz: The 2026 US-Iran War’s Economic Fallout, Diplomatic Stalemate, and Shifting Middle East Alliances
Overview
In July 2026, a fragile peace effort between the US and Iran quickly unraveled over control of the Strait of Hormuz, turning the vital waterway into a combat zone and slashing daily ship transits. This triggered a global energy shock, with oil and gas prices soaring and fertilizer trade disrupted, leading to food inflation and hardship for vulnerable countries. As governments scrambled with short-term fixes, political backlash and economic pain spread worldwide. Meanwhile, the crisis exposed the limits of military force, strained US alliances, and highlighted the urgent but complicated push for energy independence and regional stability.