Trump Insists Strait of Hormuz Will Reopen Soon Amid Iran Negotiation Denials

US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his expectation that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon, despite Iran denying ongoing talks. In a Fox News interview, Trump warned that if Iran walks away from the current discussions, which Tehran denies even exist, they will face severe attacks. He expressed frustration over Iran's public denials, stating, "It's embarrassing that they deny the talks. They called politely to talk, and I said yes, let's finish this." Trump emphasized that if no agreement is reached, it would be regrettable.

Iran insists on controlling the Strait of Hormuz in any deal, while US officials told The Wall Street Journal they expect a similar arrangement to previous understandings: first a ceasefire including reopening the strait, followed by negotiations on heavier issues like Iran's nuclear program. However, the US may oppose any agreement granting Iran control over maritime traffic, potentially blocking the deal despite ongoing talks between Iran and Oman.

Reports from AP and CNN highlight strategic and military concerns. The US military has depleted nearly 80% of its THAAD missile interceptors during conflicts with Iran, and Patriot missile stocks are dangerously low, raising defense challenges if war resumes. Regionally, the US and allied governments seek guarantees that Iran and its proxies will not threaten their territories.

The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route carrying one-fifth of the world's oil and gas, caused the collapse of a June memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. Since the war's outbreak in February, Iran has intermittently attacked vessels in the strait, causing oil price spikes and domestic pressure on Trump ahead of the November midterm elections. Iran demands transit fees for ships passing through the strait, a point of contention that led to the breakdown of previous agreements. Oman has proposed a voluntary payment mechanism, which Iran has rejected, viewing control over the strait as a critical strategic leverage it refuses to relinquish.