Trump Says Iran Deal Will Keep Strait of Hormuz Toll-Free
Washington — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the agreement his administration reached with Iran would make the Strait of Hormuz “permanently toll-free,” saying the deal would help secure one of the world’s most important energy corridors while preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said the agreement would ensure that the strategic waterway remains open while reducing the risk of a wider regional conflict. The newspaper reported that Trump said the accord would make the Strait of Hormuz “permanently toll-free” and argued that he had “saved Israel from nuclear obliteration.”
According to The New York Times, the agreement between the U.S. and Iran is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil and gas supplies.
Trump also warned that military action could resume if negotiations collapse. The New York Times reported that he said he would restart military attacks on Tehran if Iran failed to reach a final nuclear accord with the United States.
The president used the interview to defend his decision to launch military strikes against Iran earlier this year. The newspaper reported that Trump argued the attacks and the subsequent naval blockade shifted the regional balance in America’s favor and helped produce the agreement now under discussion.
Trump also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying their actions helped the diplomatic process. At the same time, he criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as “a very difficult guy” and suggesting that Israeli military actions nearly derailed the agreement, according to The New York Times.
Despite Trump’s confidence, significant questions remain unresolved. The full text of the agreement has not been released, and future negotiations are expected to address contentious issues involving Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief and Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. The New York Times reported that both sides have deferred some of the most difficult issues to later rounds of talks.
The proposed agreement is also expected to dominate discussions at the Group of Seven summit in France. According to The Wall Street Journal, allied leaders have not yet reviewed the text of the accord and are seeking clarity on how it will be implemented and monitored in the coming months.
Shipping companies have welcomed the prospect of the Strait reopening but remain cautious. Reporting from the Gulf region, The New York Times said many operators are waiting for concrete security guarantees before resuming normal traffic through the waterway, where hundreds of vessels were stranded during the conflict. (Source: IANS)
