Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has “completely violated” the existing ceasefire by opening fire in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting a French vessel and a British cargo ship. This statement was made on April 19 via his Truth Social platform.
In his post, Trump announced that U.S. representatives are set to travel to Islamabad for negotiations scheduled to begin on April 20. He criticized Iran’s threats to close the Strait, asserting that U.S. maritime blockades have effectively already done so.
Trump urged Tehran to accept what he described as a “very fair and reasonable deal,” warning that failure to do so could result in U.S. strikes against Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. The ceasefire, which began on April 8, is set to expire on April 22.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has seen increased military activity. This escalation follows U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that commenced on February 28, alongside Iranian attacks on targets in the Middle East, including vessels in the Persian Gulf.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated as Donald Trump accuses Iran of violating a ceasefire by attacking foreign vessels. U.S. representatives are heading to Islamabad for negotiations amid threats of military action against Iran's infrastructure if a deal is not reached.