Trump Says Strait of Hormuz Could Reopen Quickly Under Prospective Iran Deal

Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately if a proposed agreement between the United States and Iran is finalized, signalling potential progress in efforts to ease tensions in the region.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said negotiations with Iran were moving in a positive direction and suggested that an agreement could be reached within days.

According to Trump, the proposed understanding would focus on ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. He stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be one of the immediate outcomes of the agreement, adding that US forces had already undertaken mine-clearing operations in the region to facilitate safe navigation.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy transit routes, carrying a substantial share of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway has significant implications for global energy markets and major importers such as India.

Trump indicated that discussions with Iran had progressed well and suggested that a breakthrough could come as early as the coming weekend. He reiterated that preventing Iran from developing or obtaining nuclear weapons remained the central objective of the negotiations.

The President also claimed that a future agreement could include joint efforts by the United States and Iran to locate and destroy remaining nuclear-related materials at Iranian facilities.

Referring to recent US military operations, Trump argued that strikes carried out by American forces, including missions involving the Northrop B-2 Spirit, had severely damaged Iran's nuclear infrastructure. He maintained that any remaining nuclear material would be difficult to access but should still be removed and eliminated under a future arrangement.

Trump further disclosed that the United States had recently engaged in discussions with Hezbollah, describing it as an unprecedented diplomatic contact. He claimed that both Hezbollah and Israel had indicated a willingness to refrain from further military action for the time being.

The President also praised Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a key partner in addressing regional security concerns.

Comparing the proposed agreement with the nuclear accord negotiated during the administration of Barack Obama, Trump argued that the new framework would provide stronger guarantees against Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons.

While negotiations continue, neither the Iranian government nor independent international observers have publicly confirmed several of the specific claims outlined by Trump, including the details of any prospective agreement, the reopening timeline for the Strait of Hormuz, or joint plans regarding Iranian nuclear materials. As a result, many of the President's remarks remain proposals and assertions rather than finalized policy commitments.

With inputs from IANS