Trump's former counterterrorism adviser warns against pressuring Iran, urges sanctions relief to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Joe Kent, former counterterrorism adviser to President Trump, warned Washington against threatening Iran with "devastating economic" measures, reiterating that the U.S. should offer sanctions relief to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Withdrawing U.S. troops from the Middle East

On Wednesday, Kent posted on social media platform X, citing a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post shared by the Rapid Response account, which threatened to inflict economic hardship on Iran. Kent said that if Trump's plan were implemented: "Iran will respond by striking our forces still in the region."

He then stated that the U.S. needs to "deny Iran" that option by withdrawing troops from the "danger zone" rather than "using them as leverage that Iran can exploit."

Kent added that the U.S. could then "offer Iran sanctions relief/asset unfreezing in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz." He touted the plan as the "least destructive" way to end this "chaos" and "put Americans first."

If this plan were actually implemented, Iran would likely respond by striking our forces still in the region.

We need to deny Iran this option—withdraw our troops from the danger zone rather than using them as leverage that Iran can exploit.

Then, offer Iran...

— Joe Kent August 19, 2026

Uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz has caused volatility in global markets, with the strait transporting approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day in 2025. Trump earlier declined to extend the 60-day ceasefire agreement with Iran. At the time of writing, West Texas Intermediate crude was priced at $84.53 per barrel, while Brent crude was trading at $91.90 per barrel.

On gasoline and diesel, data from the American Automobile Association showed the national average diesel price on Wednesday was $5.5042 per gallon, up from Tuesday's average of $5.4677 per gallon. The national average gasoline price was $4.0860 per gallon.

Iran has partially lost control of the Strait of Hormuz

These comments come as analysts say the U.S. is gaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key point of contention between Washington and Tehran, with Iran seeking to impose a 5%-7% transit fee on vessels passing through the strait. Analysts said "it appears Iran has at least partially lost control of the strait."

Meanwhile, there are reports that Iran may be preparing strikes on U.S. targets in Europe, with Iran's military assessing the feasibility of striking the U.S. military base in Bulgaria, and according to reports, Cyprus has also become a possible option for Iran.

Trump earlier stated that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to the U.S., a claim denied by Mohsen Rezaee, head of Iran's Security Council, who mocked Trump's assertion, pointing out the distance between the waterway and Washington, D.C. Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which oversees traffic flow through the waterway, also previously pushed back against Trump's remarks.