Trump demands Iran surrender as US-Iran ceasefire expires
Diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz stall as Washington and Tehran accuse each other of violating the mid-June truce, with neither side indicating a willingness to extend the agreement.
US President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran “put up the white flag of surrender” following the expiration of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities in the five-month US-Israel war on Iran. Speaking during a Fox News interview, Trump asserted that the United States has established a direct backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), describing the group as “good poker players, but they’re dying.”
The expiration of the MoU, which was signed on 18 June to secure a ceasefire, leaves the conflict in a state of diplomatic limbo. Both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the truce since its inception, and neither side has indicated a willingness to extend the agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Telegram that Tehran has not yet made a decision to restart negotiations with the United States.
Tensions have escalated regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded since US and Israeli attacks on Iran commenced in February. Trump threatened to bomb US ally Oman if it obstructs efforts to reopen the shipping route, stating, “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s*** out of them.” This follows previous claims by the President that he would declare the strait part of US territory, a stance Iran has rejected, insisting the waterway “will remain Iranian.”
Despite the hostility, Iranian and Omani officials have been negotiating a joint declaration to ensure safe commercial passage through the strait. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the mechanism aims to safeguard the sovereign rights of both littoral states while maintaining commercial shipping. Reports indicate that Tehran has sought compensation fees of between 5% and 7% of cargo prices for vessels using the waterway as a condition for full reopening.
Trump insisted he is under no pressure to reach a deal ahead of the November US midterm elections, where the opposition Democrats seek to take control of Congress. “I have no time schedule … I’m not in a hurry,” the president said, projecting strength despite acknowledging the conflict has hurt his political support. Meanwhile, Oman continues to act as a neutral mediator, even as it suffers strikes from Iran since the conflict began.
