The president signaled trust in Tehran’s commitments and maintained U.S. pressure measures, while dismissing NATO involvement in regional security efforts.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Donald Trump said Friday that he believes Iran will uphold its commitments, offering a statement of confidence even as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved.
In remarks to ABC News, Trump confirmed that he trusts Iranian compliance when asked directly, though he did not provide additional explanation. He also suggested that Iranian leadership may be shifting its posture, stating, “I think they’ve had it. I think they’ve had enough. That can happen to anybody.”
The comments came as Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. Despite that development, Trump said U.S. restrictions on Iranian vessels and ports would remain in place until a broader agreement is reached, including terms related to Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the waterway, which carries a significant portion of global oil shipments, had resumed normal operations. The reopening followed a reported 10-day ceasefire involving Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
Negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials last weekend did not produce an agreement, with differences persisting over nuclear issues and related conditions. Trump indicated that further discussions may occur soon, telling Axios, “The Iranians want to meet. They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend.”
He added that members of his negotiating team could include Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and potentially JD Vance. Trump also said that any talks would be held in Islamabad, stating, “I’m not interested in going to countries that didn’t help,” as reported by ABC News.
In a separate statement, Trump addressed outreach from North Atlantic Treaty Organization following Iran’s announcement that the strait had reopened. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the alliance had offered assistance but that he declined, stating, “I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!”
The remarks followed an international meeting in Paris involving dozens of countries and organizations, according to Fortune, where discussions focused on maritime security in the region.
Leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer said planning for a multinational maritime mission would continue, with Starmer stating that deployment would occur “as soon as conditions allow.” Military coordination meetings are expected to take place in London in the coming days.
Trump has previously criticized NATO allies over their response to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for global energy supplies. He reiterated those concerns in additional comments on Truth Social, writing that U.S. forces no longer required assistance from allied carriers and adding, “We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Mark Rutte acknowledged in remarks at a Washington event, as reported by Newsmax, that the alliance had been “a bit slow” in its response, while also noting that communication gaps contributed to the situation.
The developments highlight ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran, alongside continued disagreements with NATO allies over coordination and response strategies in the region.
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