U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that a deal with Iran is impossible if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing CNN.
Trump’s Position
Trump noted that Iran seeks to open the Strait of Hormuz, which would allow Tehran to earn $500 million a day from it. At the same time, the president emphasized that the Iranians are trying to “save face” by publicly declaring their desire to keep the strait closed.
"A deal is impossible if we lift the naval blockade," Trump emphasized.
As a reminder, on April 20, Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire but kept the blockade of Iranian ports in place. He explained that he is waiting for a “single proposal” from the Iranian leadership, which, in his words, is “seriously divided.”
Iran’s Statement at the UN
Meanwhile, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani, stated on Tuesday that negotiations would take place in Islamabad as soon as the U.S. lifts the blockade.
"As soon as Washington lifts the naval blockade, I think the next round of talks will take place in Islamabad," Iranian state media IRNA quoted Iravani as saying.
Earlier, Tehran officially refused to participate in the new round of talks scheduled for April 22, calling them a “waste of time.” Vice President J.D. Vance canceled his trip to Pakistan.
The first round of talks between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad concluded on April 12 without yielding any tangible results. The parties were unable to reach an agreement because Tehran did not provide firm guarantees that it would refrain from developing nuclear weapons.
