Washington demands open Hormuz, destroyed uranium and no nuclear weapons before any money changes hands”
US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was entering the Situation Room for a final determination on whether to approve a deal with Iran.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said any agreement must require Iran to permanently abandon nuclear weapons, immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, and allow unrestricted shipping in both directions.
Trump also said any remaining naval mines in the waterway must be removed or detonated by Iran, while ships trapped by the US naval blockade may begin heading home as the blockade is lifted.
The president further stated that enriched nuclear material buried deep underground after an earlier B2 bomber strike would be unearthed by the United States in coordination with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, then destroyed. He stressed that no money would be exchanged until further notice.
Iran’s Fars news agency pushed back, claiming Trump’s comments were a “mixture of truth and lies.” Iranian sources denied that the memorandum includes a toll-free Hormuz clause and rejected Trump’s claim that Tehran agreed to coordinate destruction of enriched uranium.
The dispute comes after White House officials confirmed that US and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and begin nuclear talks, pending Trump’s approval.
Vice President JD Vance said progress has been made, but no deal has yet been reached. He noted that the sides are still debating language on Iran’s nuclear program, highly enriched stockpile and enrichment activity.
The final decision now rests with Trump, whose message remains uncompromising: Iran must open Hormuz, surrender its nuclear leverage and accept that America will not finance or reward empty promises.
