Trump says Iran seeks ceasefire, will consider when Hormuz Strait is open

Washington: US President Donald Trump Wednesday said Iran’s new leadership has sought a ceasefire with the United States, even as he signalled continued military pressure until key maritime conditions are met. In a post on social media, Trump claimed that Iran’s current president had reached out amid ongoing hostilities. “Iran’s New Regime President, much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a ceasefire!” he wrote.

The statement marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric, pairing the suggestion of diplomatic outreach with a warning of continued force. Trump indicated that any consideration of a ceasefire would be conditional.

“We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear,” he said, referring to the strategic waterway central to global energy shipments. The Strait of Hormuz has remained a focal point in tensions involving Iran and Western powers.

The remarks come as the US leadership has projected confidence in its ongoing operations against Iran. In an interview to Fox News Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said Washington was “closer than ever” to achieving its objectives, signalling momentum in the campaign.

Trump, in earlier comments, had framed the operations in stark terms, saying the US would not allow Iran to threaten global shipping routes or regional stability. He had emphasised that Tehran must ensure safe passage through key maritime corridors before any de-escalation could be considered.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told reporters a day earlier that the US forces were prepared to sustain pressure and respond decisively to any threats. He stressed that ensuring freedom of navigation remained central to Washington’s military posture in the region.

Senior Trump Administration officials have repeatedly highlighted the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, describing it as essential to global energy security. The waterway has been at the centre of heightened tensions, with concerns over disruptions affecting international markets.

Until those conditions are met, Trump suggested military operations would intensify. “Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!” he wrote.

The remarks offer no independent confirmation of Iran’s alleged request, and there has been no immediate public response from Iranian officials to Trump’s claim. The reference to a “new regime president” suggests a leadership change in Tehran, though details were not provided in the statement.

IANS