US President Donald Trump has said the United States will maintain its blockade of Iranian ports if a peace agreement with Iran is not secured, raising uncertainty over the future of the ongoing ceasefire.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump indicated that the truce between Washington and Tehran may not be extended beyond its expiration date.
“Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain,” he said when asked about the possibility of prolonging the ceasefire.
The remarks came as Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire arrangement linked to regional tensions involving Israel and Lebanon. However, Tehran has warned it could shut the vital waterway again if the US blockade persists.
A separate ceasefire between the United States and Iran is expected to expire on Wednesday, with negotiations still ongoing.
Despite the uncertainty, Trump expressed optimism about reaching an agreement.
“I think it’s going to happen,” he said.
Significant differences, however, remain between both sides after earlier talks in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough.
Trump also dismissed the possibility of Iran imposing charges on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal previously floated by Tehran.
“There are not going to be tolls,” he stated.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump added that Chinese President Xi Jinping was “very happy” about the reopening of the strategic shipping route.
“Our meeting in China will be a special one and, potentially, Historic,” Trump wrote, referring to a planned summit in Beijing in May.
The US president further suggested that any potential deal could involve the transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to the United States. However, Iran’s foreign ministry has rejected the proposal, insisting the material would not be moved “anywhere.”
The developments highlight the fragile state of negotiations, as diplomatic efforts continue alongside persistent geopolitical tensions in the region.
AFP
