JUST IN: President Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz Will Be Opened ‘With or Without’ Iran’s Approval
Published on Reflecto News | World News | Diplomacy & Energy Security
In a characteristically forceful statement delivered just hours before high-stakes peace talks are set to begin in Islamabad, President Donald Trump has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened “with or without” Iran’s cooperation, vowing that the United States will not accept Tehran’s attempts to impose a de facto toll system on the strategic waterway .
Speaking to reporters on Friday, April 10, before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, the president struck an unyielding tone on the issue that has come to define the economic dimension of the 40-day conflict. “We’re going to open up the Gulf with or without them… or the strait, as they call it,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off” .
‘No Nuclear Weapons. That’s 99% of It’
The president also laid out his primary objective for the negotiations, emphasizing that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities remains the cornerstone of any potential agreement.
“No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 per cent of it,” Trump told reporters, outlining what he described as the non-negotiable core of the US position .
The comments came as Vice President JD Vance departed for Islamabad to lead the American delegation in direct talks with Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The negotiations, scheduled to begin Saturday at the heavily fortified Serena Hotel in Pakistan’s capital, represent the first face-to-face diplomatic engagement between the two nations since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28 .
Rejecting Iran’s ‘Toll Booth’ System
Trump’s强硬 stance directly targets Iran’s emerging framework for regulating traffic through the strait. Tehran has indicated plans to impose a system of fees on vessels seeking safe passage, with reports suggesting a proposed charge of approximately $1 per barrel of oil — a condition the president has flatly rejected .
“If they are doing that, we’re not going to let that happen.” — President Donald Trump, on Iran’s proposed transit fees
“I would say this: We will have that open fairly soon,” Trump added, expressing confidence that the waterway would be restored to full operation regardless of Iranian cooperation .
The president’s remarks come amid a stark contradiction between diplomatic announcements and on-the-ground reality. Despite the two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan and announced on April 7 — which was explicitly conditioned on Iran’s agreement to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the strait” — maritime tracking data shows that only a handful of vessels have successfully transited since the truce took effect .
Iran’s ‘New Phase’ of Strait Management
Tehran has signaled that it intends to permanently alter the status quo at the waterway. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that the management of the strait has entered a “new phase” — a declaration that directly challenges the pre-war regime of unrestricted freedom of navigation .
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has stated that Iran will “take the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new stage,” suggesting that even if a peace agreement is reached, the pre-war status quo may never return .
Despite the ceasefire, Iranian authorities have imposed strict conditions on transit. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh confirmed that the strait remains open but emphasized that vessels must coordinate with Iranian forces before transiting due to “certain restrictions” . Iranian officials have also indicated that fees may be imposed on vessels passing through the strategic waterway, with costs varying depending on vessel type, cargo, and prevailing conditions .
The Staggering Scale of the Crisis
The economic impact of the continued restrictions has been severe. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, only 22 ships with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned on have exited the strait since the ceasefire began — compared with approximately 135 daily transits before the war . Lloyd’s List Intelligence reports that more than 600 vessels, including 325 tankers, remain stranded in the Gulf due to the blockage .
The crisis has sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Oil prices surged past $120 per barrel at the peak of the conflict and remain volatile . Experts warn that global energy markets are facing a “physical reality” of supply shortages as existing inventories dwindle .
The US Military Posture: ‘Their Military Is Gone’
Trump sought to frame the military situation as one of overwhelming American advantage, asserting that Iran’s capacity to resist has been severely degraded.
“Their military is gone. We’ve degraded just about everything. They have very few missiles. They have very little manufacturing capability. We’ve hit them hard. Our military is amazing.” — President Donald Trump
The president’s assessment of a defeated Iranian military, however, stands in contrast to the continued operational capabilities Iran has demonstrated, including its ability to restrict the world’s most critical energy chokepoint . Analysts have noted that Tehran considers its position to be “relatively strong, given its de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz and, therefore, the global price of oil” .
The Atlantic has outlined several potential US options regarding the strait, including a limited ground operation to capture Iran’s Kharg Island — which houses key oil export infrastructure — or deploying special forces to seize and remove enriched uranium. However, the magazine noted that all available options carry significant risks .
The Coalition Challenge: Allies Reluctant to Commit
Trump’s强硬 stance also faces the challenge of building international consensus. A coalition of more than 40 nations, excluding the United States, recently gathered in Britain to explore ways to reopen the strait, focusing on diplomatic and political measures rather than military action .
European allies have largely rejected requests to contribute naval assets. France indicated it would only support post-conflict escort operations, and other nations have cited domestic legal or political constraints .
The US Navy’s own capabilities have faced scrutiny. The retirement of four Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships from Bahrain in September 2025 — just months before Iran began mining the strait — has left a significant gap in the US military’s ability to clear the waterway . Their replacements, Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships equipped with mine countermeasure mission packages, have experienced significant operational problems, including connectivity issues that force the mothership to operate near or inside minefields .
The Islamabad Talks: A Diplomatic Crossroads
As Vice President Vance and the Iranian delegation prepare to sit down at the negotiating table, the gap between the two sides remains vast. Iran has insisted that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of its frozen assets must be ensured prior to the commencement of substantive negotiations . Neither condition has been satisfied, casting a shadow over the talks before they have even begun .
Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf struck a cautious note upon arrival in Islamabad. “We have good intentions but we do not trust,” Iranian state TV quoted him as saying. “Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises” .
Vice President Vance, for his part, expressed cautious optimism while also issuing a warning. “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive,” Vance said. However, he added: “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive” .
What Comes Next: A Critical Weekend
As the world watches Islamabad, the coming days will determine whether Trump’s ultimatum becomes a reality — or whether the strait remains a point of leverage for Tehran.
| Key Issue | US Position | Iranian Position |
|---|---|---|
| Strait reopening | Complete, immediate, unconditional | Gradual, controlled, conditioned |
| Transit fees | Rejected; “not going to let that happen” | Proposed ($1/barrel or variable fees) |
| Long-term control | Freedom of navigation under international law | “New phase” of Iranian management |
| Nuclear program | End enrichment; surrender stockpile | Right to enrich for civilian purposes |
| Lebanon | Not included in ceasefire | “Inseparable part” of any agreement |
*Sources: Multiple news reports, official statements *
President Trump’s declaration that the strait will be opened “with or without” Iran’s approval sets the stage for a potential confrontation. Whether that confrontation occurs at the negotiating table — or through other means — will become clear in the days ahead.
As one analyst noted, the fundamental question remains: can the United States force open the strait without triggering a wider war? And can Iran maintain its chokehold without provoking the very military response it seeks to deter? The Islamabad talks will provide the first indication of the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly did President Trump say about the Strait of Hormuz?
Trump declared that the strait will be opened “with or without” Iran’s approval. “We’re going to open up the Gulf with or without them… or the strait, as they call it,” he told reporters. “I think it’s going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off” .
2. What is the current status of the strait?
Despite the two-week ceasefire announced on April 7, the strait remains largely restricted. Only 22 ships have exited since the ceasefire began, compared with approximately 135 daily transits before the war. More than 600 vessels, including 325 tankers, remain stranded in the Gulf .
3. What is Iran’s position on the strait?
Iran’s IRGC Navy has announced that the “management of the Strait of Hormuz has entered a new phase,” and Supreme Leader Khamenei has stated that Iran will take management into a “new stage.” Iran has imposed restrictions requiring vessels to coordinate with Iranian forces and has proposed imposing transit fees .
4. What is Trump’s primary objective for the negotiations?
Trump stated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is “99 per cent of it.” “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 per cent of it,” he told reporters .
5. Has the US military prepared for potential action to reopen the strait?
The US has deployed significant naval assets to the region, including the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and the Ford Carrier Strike Group. However, the retirement of dedicated minesweepers and operational problems with their replacements have raised concerns about mine countermeasure capabilities .
6. Are European allies supporting US efforts to reopen the strait?
A coalition of more than 40 nations recently gathered in Britain to explore ways to reopen the strait, focusing on diplomatic measures rather than military action. However, European allies have largely rejected requests to contribute naval assets, with France indicating it would only support post-conflict escort operations .
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