Iran Privately Tells Trump Advisers Attacks in Hormuz Were 'A Mistake,' Blames Hardliners

Iranian officials have privately informed Trump administration advisers that recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were an error, attributing the hostilities to a rogue faction attempting to destabilize ongoing negotiations.

The admission signals a desire to persist with diplomatic channels, according to senior U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News.

The White House, however, continues to press for a formal public acknowledgment of the incident and has set a Saturday deadline for one, viewing the maritime aggression as a breach of the standing ceasefire.

President Donald Trump has tasked a delegation, including Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with maintaining engagement.

The Diplomatic Channel

"They came back to the table and said, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking,'" one official remarked.

Tehran maintains the provocations were initiated by an errant entity within its security apparatus.

U.S. analysts remain skeptical of the explanation, attributing Iran’s actions to the unexpected volume of energy traffic through the southern lane along the Omani coast.

Officials suggest that Tehran reneged on the memorandum after realizing the speed of oil and gas transit, rather than due to failures in internal discipline.

Strategic Leverage

The U.S. has signaled that it will deploy military and economic leverage should the hostilities continue. Negotiators are set to convene in Oman on Saturday to determine the status of the waterway.

"We're definitely in a wait-and-see moment," another official said. If the status of the Strait is not restored to pre-conflict management, officials indicated the outcome for Iran would be unfavorable.

Nuclear Implications

The administration has adopted a narrow timeline for these discussions, framing the stability of the Strait as a prerequisite for tackling the "nuclear dust," the remnants of Iran’s nuclear program.

Washington maintains that if Iran cannot secure the passage of trade, addressing the broader nuclear file remains improbable.

Regarding separate reports alleging that Israeli intelligence uncovered plots targeting Trump, officials declined to comment.

They maintained that the president does not formulate policy decisions based on threats or fear.