Iran is raising the stakes in negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, demanding billions of dollars in payments, the removal of U.S. troops from the region, and an end to the American naval blockade. With commercial traffic disrupted, oil markets under pressure, and gas prices elevated, President Trump faces a difficult decision over how far the United States is willing to go to secure the critical shipping route.

In this episode of The White House Briefing Room, Jon Decker breaks down Iran’s latest demands and the growing challenges facing the Trump administration as efforts to reach a deal remain stalled.

Plus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejects President Trump’s Gaza peace plan, insisting Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed — another sign of the growing divide between the two leaders.

Back home, President Trump’s endorsement faces a major political test in South Carolina’s Republican Senate primary, where a crowded GOP field could force the race into a runoff.

Finally, Trump names Will Scharf as the next White House counsel ahead of the midterm elections, while Todd Blanche prepares to be sworn in as U.S. attorney general.