President Donald Trump said Iran has one final opportunity to accept an agreement reopening the Strait of Hormuz before the United States proceeds with military plans that could target the country’s leadership.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran on Monday, saying Tehran has a final opportunity to reach an agreement with the United States before facing a major military operation that could include what he described as “decapitation” strikes against the country’s leadership.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he canceled a large-scale attack planned for the weekend to allow diplomacy one more chance to succeed. He emphasized that the operation remains prepared and could be carried out if Iran rejects the proposed terms.
“This is a last chance,” Trump said. “This is the last chance for them to sign a good document.
“I want to give them every last chance before decapitation.”
The immediate negotiations center on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically important waterway used to transport a substantial portion of the world’s oil supplies. Trump said he hoped shipping through the strait could resume as soon as Tuesday.
The president described the planned military action as extensive and difficult, saying the administration had not abandoned the operation despite pausing it over the weekend.
“It’s very tough to do what we have planned, still planned. We’ll see what happens, but it’s a very, very tough thing to do,” Trump said, referring to potential attacks against Iran’s leadership.
Trump said he preferred securing an agreement without launching the operation and characterized his decision to delay the strikes as an effort to avoid an assault of enormous scale.
“I think I’m very proud of the fact that I will give people a chance,” Trump said. “This is a big move to do an attack that big on a country. I’d rather not do it.”
The president later accused Iranian officials of publicly denying talks that he said they had privately requested.
Trump described Iran’s leadership as “unbelievably duplicitous” in a Truth Social post after Tehran insisted it was negotiating only with Oman rather than directly with Washington.
“Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking,” Trump wrote.
According to Trump, Iran sought the discussions with support from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. He said the Gulf countries were backing Tehran’s request for negotiations intended to prevent another round of U.S. military action.
“We are talking right now,” Trump said. “We’re talking, and we’re talking at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by UAE, and backed by Qatar in particular.”
Trump said the outcome would become apparent within one or two days and indicated that the administration would not permit the talks to continue indefinitely.
“You’ll find out today or tomorrow,” he said. “They’re going to go quickly, one way or the other.”
Iranian officials presented a different account, denying that direct negotiations with the United States were underway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran was working with Oman on arrangements governing commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our negotiations are with Oman and are focused on reaching an understanding on a route that will ensure the safe passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baghaei said.
Trump said the administration was pursuing a two-stage diplomatic process. The first phase would restore navigation through the strait, while the second would address Iran’s nuclear program.
“We’re talking about the strait, the opening of the strait, having it open literally by tomorrow,” Trump said.
Once the shipping issue is resolved, Trump said negotiations would turn to Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.
“The second phase is we then will talk about the nuclear capacity,” Trump said. “Basically, I think most say the denuclearization of Iran has to happen.”
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he added. “I have never changed in that.”
Preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon has remained the administration’s central objective throughout the conflict. Trump has continued pursuing negotiations while maintaining that military action will remain available if Iran refuses to accept an agreement.
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