Trump says U.S. has ‘good news’ on Iran, talks to continue
IN FLIGHT – APRIL 17: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press aboard Air Force One just before landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on April 17, 2026. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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President Donald Trump spoke optimistically about the progress of peace talks with Iran late Friday, saying talks remained a fragile truce, but Iranian media said the key Strait of Hormuz had been closed to shipping traffic again after the United States failed to meet its obligations.
“We had some pretty good news 20 minutes ago, but things seem to be going very well in the Middle East with Iran,” Trump told reporters traveling to Washington on Air Force One, according to MS Now. “We’ll find out shortly. We’ll negotiate over the weekend.”
A major sticking point in the negotiations has been the issue of recovering materials from Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said the US would “come to Iran and we’ll take this together and bring 100 percent of Iran back to the US.”
“We will receive it after the agreement is signed,” he said.
An agreement could not be reached in the peace talks held last weekend in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, between a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and Iranian negotiators led by parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.
Trump said he probably will not extend the two-week ceasefire, which expires on Wednesday, and that the blockade of Iranian ports will continue. US and Israeli forces launched an air operation against Iranian targets on February 28.
“Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade will continue. But maybe I won’t extend it, so you have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again,” Trump said.
Confusion over Hormuz
Earlier on Friday, Iran The Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial shipping during a separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but confusion quickly arose as to whether the seaway was truly open unconditionally.
Iranian state media said on Saturday: The Strait has since been closed Because the United States has failed to keep up its end of the bargain.
“Iran has agreed to allow a limited number of ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with the agreements,” a post on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) service X said. he said.
“However, the USA did not fulfill its obligations. Therefore, the Strait of Hormuz is now closed again and IRAN’s approval is required for passage,” IRIB said.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: social media: “In accordance with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage of the Strait of Hormuz has been declared completely open for all commercial ships for the remaining period of the ceasefire.”
However, Araghchi said the ships must pass through a “coordinated route” announced by Iranian maritime authorities. It is unclear whether Tehran will force ships to pay transit fees through the strait.
Israel and Lebanon agreed on Thursday to a 10-day ceasefire effective at 5pm that evening. Israel’s military action in Lebanon against the Hezbollah militant group, a close ally of Iran, has been another sticking point in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
President Donald Trump thanked Iran on Friday for opening the strait. social media post. However, Trump said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in effect until an agreement was reached with Tehran.
Trump also said Friday that Iran “has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and ready for commerce and full passage,” even though the U.S. blockade remains “in full force.”
“This will be a great, bright day for the world,” Trump said in his speech at the Turning Point USA event in Phoenix.
Ghalibaf immediately disputed Trump’s claim that Tehran had opened the strait for passage.
Galibaf said, “As the blockade continues, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open.” x post.
Indeed, video footage from the ship tracking company Kpler shows several tankers and cargo ships attempted to leave the waterway on Friday but were turned back.
“It’s clear they were not given a pass,” Kpler director of commodity research Matt Smith told CNBC.
Iranian media affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard reported a limited reopening of the strait. A source close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said commercial ships should coordinate with Iranian forces. Tasnim News.
According to the classification report, ships are not allowed to pass if the ships or their cargo are connected to enemy countries. According to the report, if the US naval blockade continues, the strait will be closed.
Oil prices fell more than 10% on Friday, falling below $90 a barrel. Approximately one fifth of the world’s crude oil resources passed through the Bosphorus before the war. The closure of the sea route connecting the Persian Gulf to global energy markets triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history.
Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 7 in exchange for Iran fully opening the strait. However, Galibaf accused the United States of violating the agreement by allowing Israel to continue its campaign in Lebanon.
