Joe Kent, described in the source as President Donald Trump's former Counterterrorism Chief, said the U.S. should leave the region and present that move as a victory rather than risk being drawn deeper into the Iran conflict. In posts on X on August 6, 2026, Kent said withdrawing U.S. troops and ships would deprive Iran of targets, reduce escalation risk and create room to use sanctions relief and asset unfreezing as leverage to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. His remarks came as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States and Iran could reach an agreement within days to restore freedom of movement through the strait without tolls, helping send U.S. crude down nearly 6% on August 4 to below $76 a barrel. Iranian officials, however, rejected the idea that direct negotiations were underway. The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, typically carries about a fifth of global daily oil consumption, and hundreds of commercial vessels have been delayed amid months of disruption.