Paris: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday expressed gratitude towards Iran for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while maintaining that the United States' naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue "in full force" until a comprehensive agreement is reached between the two nations:
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump's comments were made on social media following Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's announcement that the strait, a key channel for global energy shipments, is "completely" open during a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which Trump declared on Thursday.
Trump's statement on Truth Social emphasized the significance of the strait's reopening, underscoring that while it is "completely open and ready for business and full passage," the blockade targeting Iran will persist until a complete transaction is finalized. He expressed optimism, saying, "This process should go very quickly in that most of the points are already negotiated."
Furthermore, Trump highlighted Iran's declaration regarding the full operational status of the strait, extending his thanks for this development. He also hinted at potential progress in diplomatic negotiations, noting that Iran has shown willingness to comply with key demands, particularly concerning its nuclear program.
The President mentioned that Iran has agreed to forgo the development of nuclear weapons and has committed to surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile, which he refers to as "nuclear dust." He suggested that a new round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran might commence as early as this weekend.