‘Say hello to your wives’: Trump claims Hormuz blockade will end as Iran pushes back on peace deal narrative

The United States and Iran appeared to send mixed signals on Friday over the status of negotiations aimed at extending a ceasefire and potentially ending months of conflict in West Asia, with President Donald Trump claiming a deal was close while Tehran insisted that talks were still ongoing and no final agreement had been reached.

The diplomatic uncertainty comes as both sides continue discussions on the terms of a broader peace arrangement, with reports suggesting that Washington and Tehran have reached a preliminary understanding to extend the current ceasefire for an additional 60 days while negotiations continue.

Trump says decision imminent

Speaking after a meeting at the White House, Trump said a decision on a proposed agreement with Iran would be made soon. According to a White House official, senior administration officials met for around two hours in the Situation Room to discuss the proposal, although no final decision was announced.

In a post on social media, Trump outlined key conditions that he said Iran would have to accept as part of any future agreement.

“Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” Trump wrote. He also demanded that the Strait of Hormuz remain fully open to international shipping and called for the removal of any maritime mines in the strategic waterway.

Trump further claimed that a US naval blockade in the region was being lifted, allowing vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz to resume their journeys.

“Ships caught in the Strait due to our amazing and unprecedented Naval Blockade, which will now be lifted, may start the process of heading home,” he said.

A White House official later clarified that Trump would only approve a peace deal if all of his administration’s conditions were met.

Iran rejects US assertions

Iran quickly pushed back against Trump’s statements, with officials stressing that negotiations remain unresolved and that no final understanding has been reached between the two countries.

Iranian state media reported that talks on extending the ceasefire and establishing a broader framework for peace are continuing, but cautioned against interpreting recent developments as a completed agreement.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei dismissed Trump’s demands, saying Tehran does not accept being dictated to by foreign powers.

“Tehran said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago,” Baghaei said in remarks to Press TV. “We make our own decisions based on the interests and rights of the Iranian nation.”

He also criticised the maritime measures imposed by the United States, describing them as illegal and inconsistent with the spirit of the ceasefire that reportedly came into effect earlier this year.

“We have to see in practice whether they will actually follow through on their words or if this is just a propaganda claim,” Baghaei added.

Trust remains a major hurdle

The scepticism was echoed by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said Tehran remained wary of US commitments.

According to Ghalibaf, Iran has little faith in American guarantees and would judge the future of the ceasefire based on actions rather than statements.

The contrasting messages from Washington and Tehran underscore the challenges facing negotiators as they seek to transform a fragile ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement. While both sides appear interested in preventing a return to open conflict, significant differences remain over security guarantees, maritime access and Iran’s nuclear programme.

For now, the future of the ceasefire — and the prospects for a broader settlement — remain uncertain as diplomats continue efforts to bridge the gap between the two longtime adversaries.