Iran has ‘last chance’ for deal: Trump
Photo: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump issued a final warning to Iran, saying the country has one last opportunity to reach a deal and avoid devastating air strikes.
While speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump explained his desire to offer the Iranian leadership a final opening before taking extreme military action, adding, “I want to give them every last chance before decapitation.”
He emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz must remain an open waterway, asserting that the US maintains total control over the passage. Regarding potential transit fees, Trump remarked that the channel “has to be [free], I am not going to let them charge. If anybody is going to charge, we’ll charge …. We have total control.”
US utilizes its blockade to enforce freedom of navigation in the region. Trump noted that the present discussions with Tehran are occurring because Iran requested them, a move supported by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar.
Trump said, “We are talking right now [with Iran] at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by the UAE, and backed by Qatar in particular, but others also.”
He warned that if these efforts fail, this represents the final opportunity for Iran to sign a favorable document, noting that “Many countries called, but if it doesn’t happen, this is the last chance for them to sign a good document.”
Earlier, on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump labeled the Iranian leadership as “unbelievably duplicitous”.
He criticized Tehran for asking for negotiations to end the war while simultaneously announcing that no such discussions were taking place. Trump alleged that Iran backtracked by claiming they only negotiate with Oman before issuing “their usual blather” about their own power over the Strait of Hormuz.
He cautioned that the US will maintain its blockade of Iran’s southern ports until Washington and Tehran agree to a settlement for the war that began in February.
Trump characterized the American blockade as a “Wall of Steel,” declaring, “Nothing get through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished.”
Although new negotiations were expected to begin on Monday, Trump recently announced that the US would postpone another massive bombing campaign he had previously threatened.
He revealed that military plans were in place for “the biggest attack since World War II,” but he chose to prioritize diplomacy after receiving input from Iranian officials and key allies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that Tehran is pursuing various diplomatic avenues but currently avoids direct negotiations with the US.
Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei clarified that Iran is speaking with Oman and other regional partners to reduce tensions. He noted that Oman’s primary focus involves creating a temporary safe route through the channel.
Baghaei added that “As long as the maritime siege and US actions continue, nothing significant will change in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Atabak, the Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, traveled to Pakistan on Monday for discussions on easing transit bottlenecks caused by the US naval blockade.
He is scheduled to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and participate in the Iran-Pakistan Joint Trade Committee in Islamabad.
This follows a Pakistan-brokered Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, which aimed to resolve the conflict and restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that previously handled a fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas.
Since the signing of that agreement, both sides have engaged in military strikes and retaliations, with Iranian forces targeting US assets and continuing to demand control over the vital strait.
Source: Al Jazeera (adapted)
