President Donald Trump issued a blunt warning to Iran on Tuesday, threatening military action if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen soon. The strategic waterway, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, has remained at the centre of the conflict since it erupted on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
“The strait is going to be open very soon, or they will face severe consequences,” Trump told Fox News during a visit to California. His comments came as negotiators worked toward an interim deal to restore safe passage, though no formal agreement has been reached.
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Talks described as constructive, but deadline looms
Trump stated Iran had been given a final opportunity to reach a deal, making clear Tehran understood the risks of further delays. “If they back out again, they’re going to get hit really hard. They know that; they understand that. I have no choice. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple,” he said.
Despite the warnings, Trump called the negotiations productive. “We’re having very good discussions,” he said. “The only thing that matters is action. And they want to make a deal. We’ll see what happens.” When asked about timing, he replied, “I have plenty of time.”
The U.S. had been prepared to launch what he called its largest strike since World War II before Iran requested talks at the eleventh hour. “They called me and said very politely, please, can we talk?” he recalled, framing the prevention of an Iranian nuclear weapon as the non-negotiable goal behind Washington’s approach.
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Proposed deal could reroute shipping lanes
Axios reported, citing unnamed regional and American officials, that the U.S., Iran, and Oman were closing in on a 60-day arrangement to guarantee safe passage through the strait. The proposed deal would not involve toll payments and could be extended beyond its initial term, with inbound Gulf-bound traffic routed along a northern shipping lane and outbound vessels directed through a southern lane within Omani waters.
Trump suggested an agreement was near, saying he expected a deal “tomorrow or the next day.” The Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas flows, has remained at the centre of the conflict since it erupted on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
