Trump Warns "Will Attack Without Agreement"... Iran Holds Out for 'Hormuz Control'

Oman Mediates Negotiations Amid Halt in U.S.-Iran Hostilities
Iran Draws Clear Line: "This Is Not a Ceasefire"
Missile Stockpiles and U.S. Air Defense Reserves Remain Uncertainties

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his pressure on Iran, stating that while he wants to avoid further military conflict, he would order attacks on major bridges and power plants if no agreement is reached. In contrast, Iran has drawn a clear line regarding direct talks with the United States, asserting that the current situation cannot be defined as a ceasefire.

In an interview with Fox News on the 28th (local time), President Trump said, "We are currently in a very strong position," adding, "Iran knows that I will attack if they do not agree." He further warned, "The bridges could disappear in less than an hour, and most of the major bridges could be gone within two hours. Power plants could be erased in a day."

However, he also indicated the possibility of a diplomatic solution, saying, "If I don't have to do that, I would like to avoid it." President Trump stated that Iran's seawater desalination facilities would not be targeted, citing potential civilian casualties.

These statements came four days after the U.S. halted airstrikes against Iran, which had lasted for roughly two weeks following the collapse of peace talks over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, for its part, has also stopped its retaliatory attacks targeting Gulf states.

Following the cessation of hostilities, diplomatic discussions are now primarily focused on the resumption of maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Bloomberg News, negotiators from Oman and Iran met in Tehran over the past weekend to discuss management of the strait and are continuing negotiations.

Sources reported that if an agreement is reached to expand vessel passage, this could serve as an opportunity for the U.S. and Iran to resume official negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and move toward discussions ending the conflict.

Iran Denies Negotiations... Uses Hormuz as Leverage

However, the U.S. and Iran currently give differing explanations regarding the nature of the talks. While President Trump claims that the two parties are communicating, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei denied this at a press conference the previous day, stating, "There are no ongoing negotiations with the United States at present."

Spokesperson Baghaei emphasized that Iran is currently negotiating with Oman and that the core of the discussions concerns management of the Strait of Hormuz, not a nuclear agreement with the U.S. He also drew a clear line regarding the cessation of hostilities, saying, "This cannot be described as a ceasefire."

The New York Times (NYT) reported that Iran's leadership sees the current situation as a "stalemate" between peace and all-out war and appears to believe it can withstand it. Iran reportedly believes it can endure resumed fighting and is using oil prices and the Strait of Hormuz as leverage to exert pressure on President Trump.

Gregory Brew, senior analyst at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, stated, "Iran believes time is on its side," and "They believe they can endure pain and pressure longer than President Trump."

Still, Iran also faces a significant burden from a prolonged stalemate. Fighting could resume at any time, and Iran's economy is likely to worsen due to U.S. naval blockades, war damage, and uncertainty. Sustaining its military capabilities is another variable. While the exact number of Iranian missiles is not known, some experts are uncertain whether Iran possesses enough missiles to sustain a prolonged all-out war.

The United States also faces heavy burdens. The NYT noted that dwindling stocks of air defense weapons such as the Patriot interceptor missiles have become a major concern within the U.S. government. Additionally, potential losses for Gulf allies and instability in the global energy supply resulting from an expanded war are factors causing the U.S. to hesitate before launching further attacks.

However, if Iran demands control over the Strait of Hormuz or pushes to impose transit fees, a compromise is unlikely. According to the NYT, conceding control of the strait to Iran may appear a worse option to President Trump than military escalation, and other countries are also unlikely to accept the imposition of such fees.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.