Trump weighs Iran deal as he demands Hormuz Strait stay open

U.S. ​President Donald Trump said he would make a final decision on Friday over a deal with ‌Iran to extend their ceasefire that would need to include opening the Strait of Hormuz and dismantling Tehran's capacity to make a nuclear weapon.

"I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination," he said, referring to ​the White House's nerve centre for monitoring global crises.

Sources had said a deal was in the offing to ​extend a truce in place since early April for another 60 days to allow ⁠oil and gas shipments to resume through the strategic waterway while negotiators tackle tricky issues such as ​Iran's nuclear program.

"Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. The Hormuz Strait must ​be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions," Trump said, adding that nuclear material would be "unearthed" by the U.S.

There was no immediate response from Iran, but earlier its top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf had sounded sceptical.

"We do not ​trust guarantees and words, only actions are the criterion. No action will be taken before the other ​side acts," Qalibaf said in a social media post, without elaborating.

"The winner of any agreement is the one who is better ‌prepared ⁠for war the day after."—Reuters