Trump Optimistic About Iran Deal Amid Naval Blockade

US President's Remarks on Iran Deal

Washington DC: President Donald Trump expressed hope on Friday regarding the imminent finalization of a deal with Iran, stating to Axios that he anticipates the agreement could be reached "within a day or two." This announcement coincided with Iran's declaration that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all maritime traffic. However, Trump clarified in a previous post on Truth Social that the US naval blockade would remain fully enforced until the deal with Iran is completely finalized. He emphasized, "The Strait of Hormuz is entirely open and ready for business, but the naval blockade will stay in effect concerning Iran until our transaction is 100% complete." Trump also noted that most of the terms proposed by the US have already been discussed.

The US has implemented a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, deploying at least 15 warships. The US Central Command confirmed that this blockade commenced at 1400 GMT on Monday. Importantly, the blockade applies to all vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports, including those in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, while ships from non-Iranian ports face no restrictions.

This development comes just days before potential peace talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan. Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi announced that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would remain “completely open” during the ongoing ceasefire, aiming to reassure global trade and energy markets after weeks of instability. Araghchi stated, "In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by the Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran," on X.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping corridor, responsible for approximately 20% of the world's oil and energy supplies. It was previously blocked by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following US and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on February 28, leading to an energy crisis in the region.