Iran-U.S. Deal Talks End Without Agreement as Trump Demands Surrender

Iran and the United States failed to reach a final agreement by Monday’s deadline, leaving major disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz unresolved nearly six months into the war.

Iran announced an understanding with Oman on a new commercial transit route through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the arrangement cannot take effect without U.S. approval, leaving broader disagreements between Washington and Tehran unresolved.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the central issue in the negotiations. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strategic waterway. Iran says it must retain authority over shipping through the strait, while the United States is demanding unrestricted commercial navigation.

President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran wants a deal but is unwilling to accept the terms he considers necessary. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon” and argued that Tehran must make significant concessions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the two sides had reached an “understanding” on the route map and were working to finalize a joint statement.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf later said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would continue controlling shipping through the Strait of Hormuz until Washington meets Iran’s demands.

Qalibaf said Iran would not reopen the strait until the United States lifts its blockade, releases frozen Iranian assets, removes oil sanctions and ends military operations and threats against Iran.

Trump responded by warning Oman not to interfere in the dispute, telling Fox News, “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s--- out of them.”

He also urged Iran to surrender, telling Fox News that Tehran should “put up the white flag of surrender.”

Trump has continued to identify preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon as the administration’s primary objective, while negotiations remain stalled over the nuclear issue, sanctions and control of the Strait of Hormuz.