US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will reopen the Strait of Hormuz regardless of Iran’s position. His statement came just before key peace talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump stressed that the strait lies in international waters. He argued that Iran has no legal authority to impose tolls on ships passing through it.
“We’re going to open up the Gulf with or without them or the strait, as they call it," Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One for a domestic trip. “I think it’s going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off. We will have that open fairly soon," he added.
A Difficult Mission with Global Support
Trump admitted that reopening the key shipping route would not be easy. However, he pointed out that several allied nations are ready to assist the United States in ensuring free passage.
“It won’t be easy," he said, while adding that the unnamed allied nations had offered assistance. He continued, “Other countries use the strait, so we do have other countries coming up, and they’ll help out."
When questioned about Iran’s attempt to charge tolls, Trump firmly rejected the idea. “No, we’re not going to allow that; it’s international water. If they’re doing that, we’re not going to let that happen,” he said.
Diplomatic Push Begins with Vance Visit
At the same time, Trump sent Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad for talks with senior Iranian officials. The White House described this move as an effort to secure a long-term peace agreement.
These discussions follow a two-week ceasefire announced earlier in the week. The truce came after intense fighting that started on February 28, when the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran.
Iran responded with attacks on Israel and US military bases across Gulf countries, further escalating tensions in the region.
Clear US Condition for Peace Deal
Trump made it clear that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is the main goal of any agreement. He underlined this point when asked what would define a successful deal.
“No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 per cent of it," he said.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important shipping routes in the world. Located between Iran and Oman, it handles nearly 20 percent of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Since the conflict began, Iran has blocked this narrow passage. As a result, global oil prices have surged, and financial markets have faced significant uncertainty. Even after the ceasefire, ships have not resumed movement through the strait, keeping global energy supply under pressure.