Trump claims deal with Iran ‘to be signed tomorrow’
US President Donald Trump has claimed Iran will sign a deal that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz as early as tomorrow, and appeared to threaten to use nuclear weapons against them if a deal wasn’t signed.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump insisted the deal would also block Iran from any access to nuclear weapons and asserted that Iran didn’t even want a nuclear weapon.
Trump appeared to threaten to use nuclear weapons on Iran if they did not agree to sign a deal. Truth Social
“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” Trump said.
“My Agreement with Iran is the exact opposite, A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON!“, he added, referencing former President Barack Obama’s previous dealings with Iran, which he claimed was an “easy, beautiful, smooth road to a Nuclear Weapon” that Iran would have used by now.
However, he also left an ominous warning for Iran if they didn’t acquiesce to a deal with the USA, hinting that he may be forced to use nuclear weapons.
Trump claimed a deal would involve the Strait of Hormuz being reopened to international shipping traffic. Jacquelyn Martin
“Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!”
The US and Iran have been locked in a stalemate since early April, when a ceasefire was signed, after the US and Israel initially launched strikes against Iran at the end of February, beginning the Middle East conflict.
Trump said the US would ensure they would destroy anything that remained of Iran’s nuclear program.
“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it.”
Despite Trump’s announcement - and similar claims from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif - a spokesperson from Iran’s Foreign Ministry said no signing would take place on Sunday (Monday AEST), leaving the possibility that a deal may not be reached until next week.
US officials who spoke to the Associated Press said any deal signed between the two parties includes provisions for reopening the strait.
Iran's foreign ministry insists they will not sign a deal tomorrow, with foreign minister Abbas Aragchi saying some aspects still needed to be worked out. Elke Scholiers
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran wants a deal that allows Tehran to charge ships “for services rendered” when they transit the strait. Iran imposed a toll system during the war, which the US, and other nations have said violates international law.
Transit through the strait, a vital shipping lane for oil and natural gas, has disrupted global energy supplies, driven up fuel prices and made food and other basics like fertiliser more expensive well beyond the region.
Aragchi also said the terms of dealing with Iran’s nuclear program would be finalised in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed and that the parties could decide to extend that period.
The US and Israel fear Iran’s nuclear program could lead to an atomic weapon — a main reason their leaders cited for going to war. Tehran has insisted its nuclear efforts are for peaceful purposes.
The US official said that the emerging agreement would begin the process of destroying or removing Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.
They said the 60-day period after both sides sign the deal would be used to work out technical details for removing the uranium. The official did not say who the US envisions taking charge of removing the uranium, which is believed to be entombed under three nuclear sites battered by US strikes last year.
Trump appears confident of success, rounding off his announcement on social media by saying: “Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly.”
Reported with Associated Press
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