WASHINGTON — President Trump confirmed the US isn’t increasing the window for peace talks with Tehran on Monday because the US-Iran memorandum of understanding’s 60-day deadline for negotiations expired.
“Properly, they need to make a deal, however they’re not going to make the sort of a deal that I really feel is important,” President Trump instructed reporters within the Oval Workplace on Monday.
The president has demanded a ceasefire that can finish Iran’s nuclear program however Tehran desires to pursue a “nuclear power” program.
The MOU failed to fulfill main aims, like reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending Tehran’s nuclear program and reaching a remaining peace deal.
Its provisions permit for an extension of talks, however these have been lifeless for weeks — and now either side agree any extension is pointless.
Iran’s overseas ministry additionally dominated out extra talks.
“We didn’t begin any negotiations in any respect, and the US violated the understanding from the very starting; due to this fact, the 60-day problem shouldn’t be related,” Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for the ministry, mentioned.
When Trump signed the MOU together with his large sharpie pen within the halls of Versailles with French President Emmanuel Macron by his aspect, his administration known as it proof optimistic the president may cease the “infinite” cycle of conflict within the Center East.
Within the days after it was signed on June 17, Trump lashed out at critics of the deal.
“These fools, who suppose I haven’t been robust sufficient on Iran, when the Inventory Market Simply Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil costs are ‘tumbling’ down, are both jealous, dangerous individuals, or silly,” Trump wrote on Reality Social in June.
He additionally instructed critics to let the 60 days play out.
Now, two months later, issues seem like at a stand nonetheless.
Whereas there have been no publicly reported US navy strikes on Iran since late July, the Trump administration is switching to a brand new weapon: an financial sword to intestine the already devastated Iranian economic system.
“Watch this house for extra bulletins coming subsequent week as a result of we’re going to apply measures like have by no means been seen within the historical past of financial isolation of a rustic,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned in a Thursday evening interview with Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt.
In the meantime, site visitors within the crucial Strait of Hormuz has floor to a halt because the waterway stays a central level of competition.
Trump has repeatedly mused about making it a territory of the US.
“We management it. We management it with the blockade. We have now a blockade. We management it with the blockade, and I like the thought of declaring it a territory. We will. We have now complete management over the Strait,” he mentioned Monday.
He added that Iran is usually a “nuisance” with mines within the water however he mentioned the US blockade has finished its job.
The US Navy has redirected 64 business ships throughout its blockade of the strait since mid-July, US Central Command mentioned on X Monday.
The strait has been on the president’s thoughts on the date of the MOU anniversary.
Earlier, he issued a blunt, stern warning to Oman on the state of affairs.
“If Oman will get in the way in which, we’ll bomb the s–t out of them,” Trump mentioned in an interview with Fox Information’ Trey Yingst.
Requested later to make clear his remarks towards the US ally, Trump responded: “I don’t suppose they behaved very nicely, however we’d deal with them very simply, similar to we do others.”
Oman is reported to be working with Tehran on a plan to open the strait and hold the waterway underneath the management of the 2 nations. The nation additionally has tried to facilitate peace talks between the US and Iran.
In the meantime, maritime displays say site visitors is down within the strait.
Crossings fell 19.5%, based on Marine Visitors, from the week earlier than. And, of the whole 95 crossings, 51 ships used the route established by Iran, whereas 44 used different routes.
Costs for a barrel of oil are hovering round $84, up about 3% in comparison with final week.
Iran, in the meantime, mentioned the US has trapped itself inside a “quagmire” and suggested it to get out of the Center East.
“Beneath these circumstances, the very best factor for the US is to extricate itself as quickly as potential earlier than changing into extra deeply concerned,” Baqaei mentioned.
