Trump extends deadline for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz, reportedly after request from Tehran
Trump extends deadline for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz, reportedly after request from Tehran
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 10-day extension for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement linked to Tehran’s recent plea. The move follows a period of intense diplomatic pressure, as the administration sought to secure the waterway’s access to ensure unimpeded oil flow.
“Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” he wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Initially, Trump had given Iran 48 hours to clear the strategic strait or face the destruction of its energy infrastructure. During a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, he emphasized that Tehran was eager to negotiate, despite its cautious stance toward the American proposal.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, revealed during the meeting that Washington had shared a 15-point “action list” with Tehran via Pakistani intermediaries. He noted that “strong signs” indicated Iran’s readiness to discuss an end to the conflict, though the Islamic Republic’s response was still pending.
“We will see where things lead, and if we can convince Iran that this is the inflection point with no good alternatives for them, other than more death and destruction,” Witkoff said.
Trump also addressed reporters, dismissing claims that he was desperate for a deal. “I read a story today that I’m desperate to make a deal. I’m the opposite of desperate. I don’t care,” he asserted.
During a 90-minute televised session at the White House, Trump oscillated between threats to “obliterate” Iran and confidence that the country was nearing surrender. “They want to make a deal. The reason they want to make a deal is they have been just beat to shit,” he remarked.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid raised concerns about the war’s escalating costs, stating for the first time that the government was overextending its military resources. “The IDF is stretched to the limit and beyond. The government is leaving the army wounded out on the battlefield,” he warned, aligning with remarks from military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, highlighted the need for additional forces on the Lebanese front, stressing the importance of deploying more combat soldiers to defend the region.
The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that Iran’s reply to the U.S. 15-point plan was formally submitted through intermediaries the previous night. The response demanded an end to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and its regional allies, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. It also called for war reparations and the recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, setting conditions more expansive than those outlined in the American offer.
