Trump says Iran has ‘last chance’ as US pushes talks on Hormuz and nuclear curbs
US President Donald Trump said on Monday Iran has a “last chance” to strike a deal before facing “decapitation,” sharpening the pressure on Tehran as
US President Donald Trump said on Monday Iran has a “last chance” to strike a deal before facing “decapitation,” sharpening the pressure on Tehran as Washington pushes fresh talks on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the United States and Iran had begun new negotiations, even as Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied that talks were under way. “We’re talking. And we’re talking at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by UAE and backed by Qatar in particular,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Talks over Hormuz and nuclear curbs
Trump said the discussions focus first on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, and then on Iran’s nuclear capacity. “We’re talking about the Strait, the opening of the Strait, having it open literally by tomorrow, completely open,” he said.
“That’s phase one. And phase two is we then will talk about the nuclear capacity,” he added, saying the denuclearisation of Iran “has to” happen, though he said it could take time. In a separate account of the exchange, Trump said the first phase was “the opening of the straits” and the second would be “the denuclearisation.”
Pressure from Gulf allies
Trump said he had agreed to keep pursuing diplomacy at the urging of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The White House remarks came as the administration sought to frame the talks as a last chance to avoid a wider clash.
He did not spell out the shape of any agreement. But his language left little room for ambiguity. “This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said.
Iran has long insisted its nuclear work is peaceful, despite Western accusations that it seeks a bomb. Monday’s comments added fresh heat to a dispute that has repeatedly spilled into regional security, trade and energy concerns far beyond the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a large share of global oil shipments move, remains a flashpoint watched closely by shipping markets and governments well outside the Middle East. Trump said he expected the next round of talks to begin within a day or two.
He also said he had held off on ordering new major strikes against Iran after appeals from Gulf partners. And he made clear the window for diplomacy is shrinking fast. “We are talking right now,” he said. “This is a last chance.”
