Trump Urges Iran to Surrender as Truce Understanding Ends

US President Donald Trump

Tensions between the United States and Iran have risen again after the deadline of a memorandum of understanding aimed at maintaining a ceasefire expired on Monday.

US President Donald Trump said Washington was not interested in extending the 60-day understanding and urged Iran to “raise the white flag and surrender.” He also reiterated his claim that the United States has “full control” of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

The memorandum, reached between the two sides in June with Pakistan’s mediation, expired on Monday. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the 60-day period for negotiations on issues including sanctions was no longer valid because of what he described as “serious” US violations. He also warned that Iran’s forces were prepared to respond to any attack.

Asked whether Washington was seeking to extend the understanding, Trump replied that it was not. He said Iran wanted an agreement but was unwilling to accept the kind of deal Washington considered necessary.

Trump reiterated that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

“We are there for one reason: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, adding that Tehran would not be allowed to possess one.

Trump also stood by his recent suggestion that the Strait of Hormuz could be declared US territory. He described the idea as a “great” one and claimed that the United States had taken control of the waterway through a naval blockade.

“We control it,” Trump said, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed the US naval blockade had been effective, while acknowledging that Iran could still cause some problems.

Trump also said US actions were allowing millions of barrels of oil to be transported through the region each week. He suggested the waterway could either be closed or opened further depending on future US actions.

“The strait is open, oil prices are coming down and they’ll continue to come down,” Trump said, while warning that the situation could change if Washington decided to take much tougher action.

He also said Iran was facing “big problems” as tensions between the two countries continue.