Donald Trump has hinted at a possible US attack on Iran as soon as Sunday while keeping open the possibility of a deal.
US President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of renewed military action against Iran as early as Sunday, while keeping the door open to a diplomatic agreement. Tehran, however, has denied reports that it offered to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington lifting its naval blockade.Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot in Florida on Saturday, Trump said Iran wanted a deal to reopen the waterway but questioned whether Tehran would honour any agreement.“Do you really think I would tell you that? Maybe tomorrow... There's a possibility I will. There's also a possibility we'll have a nice, big, beautiful agreement,” Trump said when asked about the prospect of fresh strikes.“They want to make a deal, but the problem is, will they hold the deal?” he added.
Trump also reiterated his hardline position towards Tehran at a campaign rally in Florida, warning that the US could launch another military operation if Iran failed to reach an agreement.“We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree,” he told the cheering crowd, referring to the previous US military campaign against Iran.“If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.' But, you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're not smart,” he added.
Iran denies offering to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Iran has rejected reports that it proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz in return for the US lifting its naval blockade.The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency said Tehran had made no fresh proposal to Pakistani mediators, describing reports by a Saudi Arabian outlet claiming that Iran had conveyed such an offer to Washington through Pakistan as a “lie and fabrication”, Press TV reported.The denial follows reports that Iran was willing to reopen the strategic waterway if Washington ended its blockade.On October 18, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days remained on the table. Speaking to Iranian media in Baghdad, he said the US had shared comments on the proposal that Tehran was reviewing.“Our situation is clear and based on the seven-days proposal presented to the US. They shared comments which we are reviewing… If there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn’t, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is obvious,” Araghchi said.The latest denial comes as Washington continues to signal that a diplomatic settlement is possible, even as Trump keeps the threat of further strikes alive.