Trump says no talks scheduled with Iran, claims Hormuz ‘open and operating’

President Donald Trump asserted on Tuesday that no negotiations have been set between the United States and Iran, despite a 60-day negotiation period expiring earlier in the week. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, the president claimed the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran claims is closed to shipping, is "open and operating" and that mines in the waterway have been removed.

Trump also maintained that a naval blockade remains in effect. An AI-generated image shared by Trump depicts the Strait of Hormuz labeled as "New US Territory", further emphasizing his claim of control over the waterway. Iran, in response to US-Israeli military actions launched on February 28, has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which one-fifth of the world's oil is transported.

Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. meets the conditions outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in June. These conditions include the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, the removal of oil sanctions, the release of Tehran's frozen assets, and an end to military threats and operations.

The interim ceasefire following the MoU signing, however, was reportedly unraveled over the Strait of Hormuz, with both the U.S. and Iran declaring the deal "over" or "suspended". The MoU set a timeframe of 60 days for both countries to negotiate a final deal, including broader issues such as Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and Oman have recently been discussing the future of navigation through the Strait, with Tehran asserting that the geographical coordinates of the route agreed upon by both countries have been framed in a joint statement.