Trump Administration Issues Midnight Ultimatum to Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Attacks

The Trump administration has delivered a dramatic ultimatum to Iran, demanding a public commitment by midnight Saturday to cease attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Axios. Senior U.S. officials warned that failure to comply would result in severe military consequences in the region. An official stated, "If that is not their position tomorrow, it is not going to be a great day for them."

This escalation follows President Trump's recent declaration that a ceasefire agreement, signed three weeks earlier, has ended due to Iran's violations. Washington officials expressed deep doubts about the viability of any future, more complex nuclear deal given Iran's failure to uphold basic terms regarding freedom of navigation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Oman to meet with his counterpart in an effort to de-escalate the crisis. U.S. officials expect Iran to issue the required public statement after the diplomatic talks, allowing Tehran to back down without appearing to surrender completely. Behind the scenes, American sources revealed that Iranian representatives admitted mistakes and requested to resume negotiations after days of exchanges of fire.

The U.S. attributes recent maritime attacks to hardliners within Iran's Revolutionary Guards aiming to sabotage negotiations and increase pressure. American officials emphasized their demand for Iran to publicly acknowledge the attacks and guarantee open, toll-free passage through the Strait. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai denied claims that Iran sought direct talks with Washington, stating the Oman discussions were based on prior commitments related to maritime arrangements.

Despite the heightened tensions, U.S. officials noted some progress in nuclear deal discussions in recent weeks. A senior official said they are engaging with authoritative Iranian figures interested in an agreement but cautioned that President Trump has set a very limited negotiation window and is preparing alternative plans.