Trump Eyes Iran Deal, Orders End To Naval Blockade

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Washington/Tehran – President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports as part of a potential agreement with Tehran, while Iranian officials maintained a hardline stance on negotiations and demanded concrete U.S. actions before any commitments.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran would complete the“immediate removal” of mines from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes.

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“Ships caught in the Strait due to our amazing and unprecedented Naval Blockade, which will now be lifted, may start the process of 'heading home!!'” Trump wrote.

He added that Iran must permanently abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons and guarantee free navigation through the waterway.

“The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic in both directions,” Trump said.

The U.S. president said he would enter the White House Situation Room to make a decision on a potential accord.

“I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination,” he wrote.

Trump also claimed that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles would be recovered and destroyed under a mechanism involving Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Iran's enriched uranium will be unearthed by the United States, in conjunction with Iran and the IAEA, and then destroyed,” he said.

Dismissing reports that Washington was considering financial compensation or investment-linked arrangements with Tehran, Trump said no funds would be transferred under the emerging framework.

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“No money will be exchanged, until further notice,” he wrote, adding that only“items of far less importance” had been agreed so far.

It was not immediately clear whether Iran had accepted the conditions outlined by Trump or whether the reported U.S. naval blockade had formally been lifted.

Iran Signals Hardline Position

Iranian officials, meanwhile, reiterated a cautious and uncompromising approach toward negotiations with Washington.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran had little faith in US commitments and viewed military strength, rather than diplomacy, as the source of leverage.

“We seize concessions not through dialogue, but with missiles. In negotiations, we merely make them understand,” Qalibaf wrote on X.

He added,“We have no trust in guarantees or words, as only actions are the measures.”

“No action will be taken before the other side acts,” he said.

Qalibaf further argued that preparedness for future conflict remained central to any agreement.

“The winner of any agreement is the one who prepares better for war from the day after,” he said.

Indirect talks between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan and facilitated by Qatar, have continued in recent weeks. Iranian officials say discussions are based on a 14-point proposal aimed at ending hostilities, halting what Tehran describes as American maritime aggression, and securing the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said earlier this week that the negotiations were focused on ending military aggression and did not include discussions over Iran's nuclear programme or management of the Strait of Hormuz.

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“The indirect talks with the United States are centred on ending aggression on all fronts,” Baqaei told reporters, adding that“the nuclear issue or the management of the Strait of Hormuz are not part of the negotiations.”

Memorandum Not Yet Finalized

Despite speculation that the talks were nearing a breakthrough, Iranian officials sought to downplay expectations.

An informed source cited by Iran's Tasnim news agency said reports in some Western media outlets about the contents of a potential memorandum of understanding were inaccurate.

“The text of the memorandum has not yet been finalized,” the source said.

“If the text is finalized, it will be officially announced.”

“For this reason, the texts that Western media outlets have so far published as part of the main text are devoid of accuracy,” the source added.

According to the source, the draft memorandum has undergone several revisions in recent days.

Separately, Ali Baqeri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Thursday that the United States must release all frozen Iranian assets without conditions.

“The United States should unconditionally release all of Iran's frozen assets,” Baqeri Kani said, describing the demand as“the legal right” of the Iranian people.

The latest statements underscore the significant gaps that remain between Washington and Tehran despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, with both sides publicly maintaining firm positions on key security and economic issues.

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