WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has ended, while he insisted that Iran has agreed to allow nuclear inspections long into the future despite statements to the contrary from Iranian officials.
“Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!),” he wrote in a social media post. “This will insure ‘Nuclear Honesty.’ If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations!“
Iran has denied it had begun discussions on its nuclear program or agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back to the country.
Trump also said that the United States would leave ships in the Strait of Hormuz in case it becomes necessary to reimpose its blockade of Iranian ports, something he said was “at this point, highly unlikely.”
He added that 19 million barrels of oil flowed out of the Hormuz Strait on Monday. The US waived sanctions on Iran for 60 days from Monday after the first talks under a nascent peace deal.
Meanwhile Oman and Iran have said that all arrangements related to the Strait of Hormuz must fully respect their sovereign rights, the Oman news agency reported.
It said that following talks in Muscat, the two countries had renewed their commitment to preserving the Strait of Hormuz as a safe, open waterway for international navigation, and affirmed the importance of continuing cooperation to enhance maritime safety, freedom of navigation, and regional stability.
Trump on Tuesday said the funds that the US Treasury is releasing will go into escrow under US control and will be used to buy food and medical supplies exclusively from the United States, including corn, wheat, and soybeans.
“These are things that are desperately needed by Iran. This is a humanitarian crisis, and I feel it is necessary to help, NOW, before it is too late,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said an agreement has been reached with the United States to release $12bn in frozen Iranian funds.
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Source: Saudi Gazette