US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to “get smart soon” and sign a deal, sharpening pressure on Tehran as efforts to end the conflict remain stalled and Washington weighs keeping a naval blockade of Iranian ports in place for months.
Trump used a Truth Social post on Wednesday to accuse Iran of failing to reach what he called a “non-nuclear deal”, saying Tehran “couldn’t get its act together”. His message followed days of deadlock over the terms of a settlement that would reopen maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz while addressing Washington’s demand that Iran be denied any path to a nuclear weapon.
The remarks came as the White House discussed with energy executives how to limit the impact of a prolonged blockade on global oil markets and US consumers. The blockade has become one of Washington’s main tools of pressure, but it has also intensified concern over fuel prices, maritime insurance costs and the stability of Gulf shipping lanes.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, normally one of the world’s most important energy arteries, has fallen sharply since the conflict began. Daily passages that once numbered well above 100 have dropped to a fraction of normal levels, with shipping firms, insurers and charterers wary of military escalation, mines, seizures and sanctions exposure. The waterway handles a significant share of seaborne crude and liquefied natural gas, making disruption there a direct risk to Asian and European energy buyers.
Washington’s position remains that Iran must accept restrictions preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon before broader relief is considered. Tehran has insisted that any settlement must recognise its right to uranium enrichment and include steps to ease the pressure on its ports and shipping. That gap has kept diplomacy from producing a workable formula, despite attempts by intermediaries to keep communication channels open.
Pakistan has been involved in efforts to relay messages between the two sides, reflecting the limited direct contact between Washington and Tehran. The conflict has also complicated the position of Gulf states, which want shipping lanes reopened but remain wary of a settlement that leaves Iran with expanded leverage over maritime traffic or nuclear capacity.
A provisional ceasefire declared earlier this month has reduced some direct military activity but has not restored commercial confidence. The blockade of Iranian ports, declared after earlier talks failed, continues to restrict vessels linked to Iranian trade. Tehran has explored measures to extract payments from ships seeking passage, a move that Washington has warned could expose companies and financial intermediaries to penalties.
Oil markets have responded nervously. Prices have risen as traders factor in the possibility that a blockade lasting months could tighten supplies, raise transport costs and disrupt refinery planning. The pressure is especially sensitive for the Trump administration, which is trying to maintain a hard line on Iran while containing domestic anger over higher fuel costs.
Iran’s economy is under severe strain. The rial has weakened sharply, inflation remains elevated, and disruptions to trade have compounded fiscal pressure. Port restrictions have hit shipping, imports and export revenue, adding to long-standing sanctions-related difficulties. The leadership in Tehran, however, faces its own political constraints, with hardline factions resisting any agreement seen as surrendering nuclear rights under military and economic pressure.
Trump’s rhetoric has hardened as the stalemate lengthens. He has repeatedly said Iran can contact Washington if it wants negotiations, while warning that the country will not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. His Wednesday post, accompanied by a combative image, signalled impatience with Tehran’s negotiating position and suggested the White House sees continued pressure as the route to concessions.
The administration’s approach carries risks. A longer blockade could deepen Iran’s economic pain and force movement at the negotiating table, but it could also invite retaliation against shipping, US assets or regional partners. Even without a major new clash, uncertainty around Hormuz is enough to keep freight rates elevated and discourage normal tanker traffic.
Tehran has sought to portray Washington’s blockade as unlawful coercion and has argued that the US is blocking a political settlement by refusing to acknowledge enrichment rights. US officials counter that any deal that leaves Iran with a nuclear weapons pathway would be unacceptable, particularly after years of disputes over inspections, stockpiles and regional proxy activity.
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