US President Donald Trump announced on April 1 that Iran's new leadership has requested a ceasefire with the United States, but he warned that intense military action will continue until the Strait of Hormuz is completely unblocked.
In a fiery statement published on his social media platform, Trump referred to the current Iranian president as "much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors," confirming that Tehran had formally reached out for a truce.
"We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear," the US president wrote. He delivered a stark ultimatum, adding that until the critical waterway is fully accessible, American forces are "blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!".
The president's aggressive rhetoric follows a recent joint diplomatic push by China and Pakistan. Beijing and Islamabad recently unveiled a five-point peace initiative aimed at halting hostilities, which also featured the rapid restoration of safe passage for commercial vessels through the strategic chokepoint as a key condition.
While Trump had previously suggested that negotiations with Tehran were "going well" in response to the Sino-Pakistani plan, his latest remarks signal an uncompromising stance. Washington appears strictly focused on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz before entertaining any formal cessation of hostilities.