Trump says Iran deal ‘could be soon’ and reveals 20 more oil tankers are set to pass through Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a deal could be ‘imminent’ as negotiations with Iran continue and announced that 20 more oil tankers are planned to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a ‘sign of respect’.

Trump claimed that Tehran was “begging” for peace talks and that the regime was desperate to reach an agreement after suffering what he called heavy losses on the battlefield.

‘We are doing extremely well in this negotiation. But you never know with Iran, because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up,” he added, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.

“I think we’ll make a deal with them, but it’s possible we won’t,” Trump continued. ‘I see an agreement in Iran. It might happen soon.’

Asked by Channel 14 Israel’s Libby Alon whether the US could take control of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump replied: ‘Yes, of course, that’s already happening.’

The strategically vital waterway, which acts as a conduit for approximately one-fifth of global oil supply, has been partially closed by Iran. The result caused oil prices to soar.

Trump also referred to the important waterway as the ‘Trump Strait’ and made a pointed joke about it in his speech on Friday.

We are negotiating right now and it would be great if we could do something but they need to open it up. “They have to open the Trump Strait, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump sparked laughter at the Saudi-backed Future Investment Initiative Priority forum in Miami, before adding: “Excuse me, I’m so sorry… there’s nothing wrong with me.”

In a separate interview with Finance TimesTrump went further and openly discussed seizing Iran’s oil infrastructure.

The president was discussing how any peace deal with Iran would result in reopening the waterway currently blocked by the war with Iran.

C14Israel’s Libby Alon said Trump told her Iran was ‘basically begging’ for a deal. When asked if the Strait of Hormuz would be taken under control, Trump said ‘yes, of course, that’s already happening’

‘Honestly, my favorite thing is to buy oil from Iran, but some stupid people in the US say: “Why are you doing this?” “But they are stupid people,” he said.

Trump specifically pointed to Kharg Island, through which most of Iran’s oil exports pass, as a potential target.

‘Maybe we can take Kharg Island, maybe we can’t. “We have many options,” he said. ‘That also means we have to be there’ [on Kharg Island] for a while.’

When asked about Iran’s defense on the oil-rich island, Trump added: ‘I don’t think they have any defense. ‘We can handle this very easily.’

He compared the idea to US intervention in Venezuela and suggested Washington could control oil production ‘indefinitely’.

Risks were already fluctuating in global markets on Sunday night. Brent crude oil rose above $116 per barrel, approaching its highest level since the beginning of the war. after jumping more than 50 percent in a month.

Trump said indirect talks with Iran through Pakistani intermediaries were “going very well” but also issued a harsh ultimatum.

He gave Tehran until April 6 to accept a deal or face a strike on its energy sector.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of ‘secretly planning a ground attack’ while offering negotiations. Galibaf says Iranian forces are ‘waiting’ for American troops and are ready

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints, with approximately one-fifth of global supplies typically passing through its narrow waters.

“We’ve got about 3,000 targets left, we’ve bombed 13,000 targets, and we’ve got a few thousand more to go,” Trump said. ‘A deal could be struck fairly quickly.’

Trump also made a series of claims regarding the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, saying that Iran allowed tankers to pass as a “sign of respect.”

‘They gave us 10,’ he said. ‘Now they are giving 20 and the 20’s have already started and they are heading right into the middle of the Bosphorus.’

The country’s parliament speaker, Mohammed Bagher, claimed that Galibaf personally authorized this move.

“He was the one who gave me the authority to transfer the ships to me,” Trump said. ‘Remember when I said they were going to give me a gift? And everyone said: “What now? Bulls***.” ‘They kept their mouths shut when they heard this and the negotiations are going very well.’

In the same FT interview, Trump claimed that Iran had already undergone de facto regime change following news of the deaths of senior leaders.

‘The people we encounter are a completely different group of people. . . [They] “They are very professional,” he said.

Mojtaba also repeated unverified allegations about Khamenei, saying: ‘His son is either dead or in a very bad condition… We have not heard anything from him. ‘He’s gone.’

A smartphone screen displaying a MarineTraffic map shows the high density of ship markings in the Strait of Hormuz

But Tehran insisted its leadership remained intact and rejected speculation about internal unrest.

Even as Trump talked about negotiations, Iranian officials were issuing dire warnings of impending military tensions.

Galibaf accused the United States of hypocrisy and claimed that diplomacy was being used as a cover for an impending invasion.

“The enemy is secretly planning a ground invasion while sending negotiating messages to the public, unaware that our men are waiting for American troops to enter the field, ready to unleash destruction on them and permanently punish their regional allies,” Ghalibaf said. he said.

He added: ‘As long as the Americans want Iran to surrender, your sons’ answer is clear: ‘Far be it from us to accept humiliation.’

The warning came as the American amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, carrying about 3,500 troops, arrived in the Middle East, according to US Central Command.

Trump also highlighted what he described as close cooperation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the ongoing conflict.

‘The coordination is very close; We have a good relationship with full coordination. According to Alon’s description of the meeting, Trump said, “It couldn’t get any better.”

He went further and gave a direct message to the Israeli people.

‘I love Israel. I love the people of Israel and I am very proud and happy for their support. A poll this morning shows they have 99% support. ‘No one has ever experienced anything like this so I’m very proud.’

Donald Trump suggested he could get the Kennedy Center treatment after naming the Strait of Hormuz after himself in his speech in Miami on Friday.

The Strait of Hormuz became the focal point of the conflict.

This narrow passage, long considered one of the most critical arteries of global energy supply, has been effectively blocked by the conflict, sending shockwaves through oil markets and raising fears of a wider regional war.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously warned that Iran might try to impose a ‘fee system’ on ships passing through the strait, signaling a potential long-term disruption in international shipping.

At the same time, diplomatic efforts continue. While the rhetoric of both sides is getting tougher, Pakistan is hosting talks aimed at reducing the tension of the crisis with the participation of the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.