Iranian state media casts doubt on Trump’s claim of strait reopening
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- US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen "very soon" or Iran would face severe US military action.
- Iranian state media said any agreement with Oman would not result in the immediate reopening of the strategic waterway.
US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen "very soon," but Iranian state media said any agreement with Oman would not immediately restore shipping through the strategic waterway.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened "very soon or they (Iran) are going to get hit very hard," linking the reopening to ongoing discussions over maritime navigation.
His remarks raised expectations that negotiations between Iran and Oman could lead to the resumption of traffic through the vital shipping route.
However, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, citing an unnamed informed source, reported that any future agreement between Tehran and Muscat "has no connection to the immediate reopening of the strait."
According to the report, the source said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed if what Tehran describes as "US violations" continue, even if Iran and Oman reach an agreement on future navigation arrangements.
The differing statements underscore the gap between Washington and Tehran over the conditions for reopening one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.
