If Mr. Trump is unwilling to abandon his dream/hope of "making a deal" with the iranians, he is going to damage his presidency beyond repair.
As 240b succinctly pointed out above, there are no "deals" to be made with them, in any shape or form. You cannot "negotiate" with those who only return such negotiation in BAD faith, from the get-go.
What next?
The USA must take control of Kharg Island, and any other iranian-controlled islands near the Straits.
The USA must launch an air campaign to lay waste to everything, military and civilian, on either side of the Straits for about 75 miles in each direction, and 50-75 miles inland. Afterwards, this must lead to a ground campaign to gain "boots on the ground" control of the area.
The USA must take decisive action -- including the use of nuclear weapons, if that's what's going to be required to effect total destruction -- against iran's underground missile sites. These are far enough away from civilian areas so that the casualties will be mostly military.
If by this point iran still won't surrender, then a full-scale ground invasion may be required.
Do we have 5-7 divisions' worth to deploy...?
You're going to come back at me with, "do the things you propose, and the Republicans will lose the elections in '26 and '28."
Well, ok. I reply with, "DON'T do those things for the sake of a phony deal that will soon crumble into pieces, and we will DEFINITELY lose in both those years..."
