Donald Trump on Sunday issued a strong warning to Iran following inconclusive peace talks held in Islamabad, urging Tehran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz and abandon its nuclear ambitions.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that Iran had failed to honour its commitment to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, claiming that mines had been placed in the waterway. He said the situation had triggered global concern, with shipping companies likely to avoid the route due to safety risks, potentially disrupting international trade and energy supplies.
Trump said he had been fully briefed on the marathon negotiations in Islamabad, which lasted nearly 21 hours. He praised Pakistan's leadership, including Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif, for facilitating the discussions and supporting diplomatic efforts.
Despite what he described as progress on certain issues, Trump said the talks ultimately failed to achieve a key objective—convincing Iran to halt its nuclear programme. He noted that the Iranian delegation, which included Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, remained firm on continuing nuclear development.
Reiterating Washington's long-standing stance, Trump asserted that Iran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, stressing that this issue outweighed all other aspects of the negotiations. While acknowledging that some areas of agreement were reached, he emphasised that none were as critical as preventing Iran from gaining nuclear capability.
His remarks underscore the continued tensions between Washington and Tehran and highlight the uncertainty surrounding future diplomatic efforts. The situation also raises concerns about global energy security, given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz for oil shipments worldwide.
(With inputs from IANS)
