President Donald Trump said Monday evening that the Iranian leadership is 'unbelievably duplicitous,' accusing them of publicly denying talks while privately seeking meetings. In a statement, Trump also asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under full US control and that nothing reaches Iran without American permission, reiterating that Iran will never obtain nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump issued a statement Monday evening reiterating his accusations of Iranian duplicity and asserting full US control over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the only resolution is an agreement or 'total surrender.' The latest remarks, first reported by The Zioneer at 18:28 Jerusalem, expand on earlier versions of the same statement, which earlier described the naval blockade as a 'steel wall' and claimed that Iranian officials are 'begging' for meetings while publicly denying talks.
The thread of the President's statements unfolded rapidly Monday evening. The initial version, published at 18:28 Jerusalem, accused Iran's leadership of being 'unbelievably two-faced' and claimed the US Navy controls the Strait of Hormuz. A subsequent version added the 'steel wall' description of the blockade. Later versions specified that discussions have already begun and that additional sessions are scheduled, culminating in the ultimatum that only an agreement or 'total surrender' is acceptable. The Zioneer's own reporting throughout the evening tracked these incremental details.
As The Zioneer has reported previously, Trump has balanced diplomatic engagement with military pressure. In June, he detailed a potential deal involving permanent nuclear oversight and a US-controlled escrow account for humanitarian aid, and stated that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen. In July, he reiterated that Iran must under no circumstances obtain nuclear weapons. The current statements represent a hardening of tone, with the President emphasizing the 'steel wall' blockade and the necessity of surrender.
The specific terms of the ongoing talks remain unverified independently. Tehran continues to publicly deny any direct negotiations, while Trump claims they are actively seeking meetings. The status of the humanitarian escrow mechanism and the timeline for any agreement have not been clarified.
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