Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 11: US President Donald Trump on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “with or without” Iran’s cooperation and stressed that preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains the top priority in ongoing peace efforts.

Speaking to reporters before departing Washington for a domestic visit, Trump said, “We’re going to open up the Gulf with or without them… I think it’s going to go pretty quickly.” He added that if diplomatic efforts fail, the US would be able to “finish it off.”

His remarks come ahead of scheduled talks in Islamabad involving US and Iranian delegations aimed at finalising a ceasefire agreement. The discussions follow a fragile two-week ceasefire announced earlier this week after escalating hostilities in the region.

Trump has reportedly sent Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad to meet senior Iranian officials as part of efforts to secure a broader peace deal. The White House has said the central goal of the negotiations is to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.

“No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 per cent of it,” Trump said when asked what would define a successful agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route between Iran and Oman, handles a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas transport. Shipping through the strait has been severely disrupted amid the ongoing conflict, contributing to global market uncertainty.

Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad for the talks. The US delegation led by Vice President Vance is also expected to participate in negotiations aimed at stabilising the situation and securing a lasting ceasefire.