President Donald Trump signaled a further escalation in the U.S. posture toward Iran on Thursday, declaring there is “no time pressure” for negotiations and “no time frame” for ending the ongoing conflict, even as global economic concerns mount.
The remarks come just a day after Trump extended a ceasefire deadline on Iran to come back to the negotiating table with a deal. Despite warnings from the International Monetary Fund about the risk of a potential global recession stemming from a prolonged conflict, the president appeared to dismiss urgency around diplomatic resolution.
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump described internal instability within Iran’s leadership, writing that the country is “having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is,” pointing to divisions between so-called “Hardliners” and “Moderates.”
He also made a sweeping claim about U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit chokepoint.
“We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is ‘Sealed up Tight,’ until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!” Trump wrote.
Earlier Thursday morning, the president said he had ordered the U.S. Navy “to shoot and kill” any vessels attempting to lay mines in the strait. He added that U.S. minesweeping operations are now running at “a tripled up level” to secure the waterway.
Meanwhile, U.S. military officials confirmed that American forces have boarded another tanker allegedly involved in smuggling Iranian oil, further intensifying the maritime standoff.
The developments follow a sharp escalation earlier this week, when Iranian forces attacked three commercial ships and seized two. Tehran has accused the U.S. naval blockade of being a “main obstacle” to renewed peace talks.
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