Trump Says Strait of Hormuz Will Open Soon, Responds 'That Could Be' to Reports of Imminent Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 4th (local time) that the Strait of Hormuz will open soon or Iran will face a very strong attack.

President Trump also responded "that could be" to media reports that a U.S.-Iran agreement is imminent and a deal could come as early as the 5th or 6th.

According to AFP, President Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he is having very good discussions with Iran, claiming that Iran desperately wants an agreement to resolve months of conflict.

"The only thing that matters is actions," he said, adding, "We will see what happens. There is plenty of time."

President Trump evaluated the talks positively, saying that delegations had been negotiating all day and that discussions were proceeding smoothly.

He also previewed, "We will know within 48 hours."

These remarks came as U.S. and Iranian authorities simultaneously signaled green lights, suggesting progress in diplomatic solutions including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on ending the war last June, but engaged in armed clashes for several days after failing to narrow differences over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Since then, through mediation by Middle Eastern countries centered on Oman, the two countries turned toward a phase of dialogue and resumed negotiations on the issue of reopening the strait.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met with reporters to confirm that the U.S. is involved in the Strait of Hormuz negotiations between Oman and Iran, stating, "We hope an agreement will be reached soon."

Reports that a deal is imminent are emerging in the U.S. media.

The internet media outlet Axios reported that the U.S., Iran, and Oman are close to a provisional agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. aiming for an announcement on the 5th.

When asked by reporters about the report, President Trump acknowledged the possibility that the results of the agreement could be announced soon, saying, "That could be. Sometime tomorrow or the next day" and "A lot of progress has been made."

According to sources cited by Axios, Oman and Iran are discussing establishing a renewable 60-day provisional measure for the Strait of Hormuz.

Under this plan, all vessels entering the Persian Gulf would use the northern lane passing through Iranian territorial waters, while all vessels heading out to the Arabian Sea would use the southern lane passing through Omani territorial waters in consultation with Iran.

No tolls or fees would be charged for 60 days, and the parties would work to clear mines from the central channel of the strait within 30 days.

This agreement includes provisions partially accommodating Iran's demands regarding passage rights, which Axios reported is control that Iran did not possess before the war.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.