An Iranian news outlet on Sunday labelled President Donald Trump "Trump the fool." "Trump the fool has run out of steam!" the semi-official Fars News Agency declared, after Trump asserted the Middle Eastern allies have reached the framework of an agreement to end the five month old war.
Trump maintained that Tehran had requested the US to delay any attack. Iranian media refuted the assertion and dismissed reports about an agreement that would split control of the Strait of Hormuz. Citing military officials, Fars News stated the allegation "was nothing but a new lie" and that the Iranian armed forces were "on high alert and ready for any eventuality."
Iranian media round on Trump
Mehr, another semi-official outlet, said: "Trump once again backed away from his hollow threats and presented his retreat to the world as a favor." Kayhan, another Iranian outlet, said Trump "backed away from his positions once again, after about a week of boasting and threats against Iran, claiming that an agreement was close."
Trump's deal announcement
In a Saturday evening social media post, Trump wrote that the emerging agreement would include the "Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat." He said: "Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL."
Iran's official response
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz "will in no way return to the status it was before February 28th," the date the conflict commenced. Speaking to Iranian state television, he added that Iran is in discussions with Oman, situated on the opposite side of Hormuz, regarding shipping through the strait, though there are currently no talks about reopening the vital waterway.
Trump has declared pauses to strikes in Iran on multiple occasions since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, only for matters to deteriorate and hostilities to recommence. Iran's defence minister posted on X that the nation was "neither surprised nor passive" in response to Trump's announcement and stated that Iran remains vigilant amid tangible threats from the US.
