Donald Trump ruled out this Wednesday any agreement that would allow Iran to exercise control over the Strait of Hormuz. “They are international waters, no one is going to control them. We are going to monitor them. We will watch them, but no one will control them“said the US president during a cabinet meeting at the White House. With this message, he responded to the draft broadcast by Iranian state television, which pointed to a draft agreement to restore maritime traffic.
According to that document, Tehran would commit to recover pre-war levels of commercial traffic in one month. The management would be carried out in coordination with Oman, a country that appears in the text as a relevant actor to unblock the situation. However, the White House denied the existence of such a document and Trump flatly rejected that possibility.
Trump went a step further and toughened his tone against Oman, in case it did not cooperate with American interests. “Oman will behave like everyone else or we will have to bomb them“, he pointed out, to clarify below: “They understand it. They will be fine“The president insisted that the strait must remain open to all, something that contrasts with the insistence that The United States intends to maintain surveillance direct on the route.
No sanctions on the table
Trump also denied that sanctions relief is being negotiated or the unlocking of frozen Iranian funds. “No, we are not talking about any sanctions relief or giving money. No sanctions, no money, no nothing“, held.
The Iranian draft contemplated that the United States would lift the blockade of Iranian ports and ships imposed in retaliation for the blockade of Hormuz. It also included a withdrawal of US forces near Iran. Washington denies it.
The alleged pre-agreement nor would it include an immediate nuclear pact. The idea, according to the leaks, would be to extend the truce for 60 days and then negotiate the limitation of uranium enrichment by Tehran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a White House Cabinet meeting / SAMUEL CORUM / Ephesus
“We are not satisfied”
Trump tried to present himself as if he had the upper hand, and that it is the Iranians who are in a hurry to reach an agreement. “Iran really wants to reach an agreement. So far we haven’t gotten there. We are not satisfied with itbut we will be or we will just have to finish the job,” he said.
The president maintained that The negotiations are “going very well”, although he once again threatened to resume the military offensive suspended since April after the ceasefire. If Tehran delivers what Washington demands, he said, it will be “great”; If not, he warned, Secretary of Defense (called by Trump as “War”), Pete Hegseth, “is going to finish them off.”
Also tried to give the image that he is in no hurry to close a pact before the November midterm elections. This contrasts with the incessant increase in fuel prices and the cost of living, something that is exasperating the electorate, according to polls in recent weeks.
Trump was defiant, pointing out that, according to him, Iran is trying to drag out negotiations to pressure him with the economic impact of the war. “They thought they were going to keep me waiting,” he said. And he finished: ““I don’t care about the midterm elections.”.
Rubio defends the diplomatic route
He sSecretary of State, Marco Rubio, He avoided offering details concrete, although he recognized progress. “I think there has been some progress and some interest, and we will see in the coming hours and days if progress can be made,” he explained. He also noted that “diplomacy is always the first option“he said, as a counterweight to the president’s statements.
Meanwhile, the United States and Iran have intensified their contacts through Pakistani mediators to close an agreement to end the war and unblock Hormuz. Rubio added that Trump has “other options” if the conversations do not give the result you are looking for.
An agreement that must be “perfect”
Trump He also linked the normalization of relations between Arab countries and Israel with the end of the war. He said that is “strongly asking” that Saudi Arabia and Qatar join the Abraham Accords, promoted during his first term, although he avoided stating that a pact with Iran depends on that step.
Trump also rejected that Russia o China can take over Iran’s reserves of highly enriched uranium. “That wouldn’t make me feel comfortable.“he stated.
The president assured that a “good agreement” with Iran could now be reached, but tried to justify the delay by claiming that he is looking for something more. “It has to be perfect,” said. “I didn’t do this to get a bad deal.” However, the main negotiating elements, such as the reopening of Hormuzare conditions that already existed before the war: The closure of the strait is not a cause, but a consequence of the American attacks.
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