President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is extending the U.S. ceasefire with Iran and keeping pressure on the country through a blockade and new sanctions. He also said Iran is running out of money fast.
In a post on Truth, Trump wrote, “Iran is collapsing financially! They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately- Starving for cash! Losing 500 Million Dollars a day. Military and Police complaining that they are not getting paid. SOS!!!”
Trump said the ceasefire had been due to end on Wednesday, but he decided to keep it in place because the government in Tehran is “seriously fractured.”
He said the pause will continue “until such time as” Iran’s leaders and representatives submit a “unified proposal” to end the war with the United States and Israel. Trump also said he made the move after a request from Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan. He said he directed the U.S. military to keep the blockade in place until a proposal is delivered.
Trump delays new attacks, keeps the Strait blocked, and waits for Tehran to send one proposal
Trump’s move came after reports that JD Vance was expected to go to Pakistan for a second round of peace talks with Iranian officials, but the trip was put on hold. Iranian state outlet Tasnim then reported that Tehran’s negotiators had told U.S. officials through an intermediary in Pakistan that they would not return for more talks.
Tasnim said, “Iran ultimately announced today that under these circumstances, attending the negotiations is a waste of time because the US prevents reaching any suitable agreement.”
An adviser to the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, called Trump’s ceasefire extension “a ploy to buy time” for a surprise strike, according to Reuters.
Trump also said Iran wanted the Strait of Hormuz open because it needs to make $500 million a day, and that this is what it is losing while the route stays shut.
He said Iran only talks about closing the waterway to save face because the U.S. has it “totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!).” He said people approached him four days earlier and told him Iran wanted the passage reopened immediately.
Trump adds new sanctions and repeats claims about Iran’s military damage, cash losses, and past U.S. policy
The ceasefire extension came as the United States rolled out another round of sanctions against Iran ahead of possible talks meant to close more of seven weeks of fighting. The Treasury Department said Tuesday that the new penalties target 14 individuals and entities accused of helping Iran acquire weapon components.
Scott Bessent said, “The Iranian regime must be held accountable for its extortion of global energy markets and indiscriminate targeting of civilians with missiles and drones.” He added, “Under President Trump’s leadership, as part of Economic Fury, Treasury will continue to follow the money and target the Iranian regime’s recklessness and those who enable it.”
Trump also attacked a Wall Street Journal editorial by Elliot Kaufman, titled, “The Iranians Take Trump for a Sucker.”
Trump called Kaufman “an IDIOT” and “a MORON,” and said Iran had killed Americans and others for 47 years while taking advantage of every president except him.
He said Iran’s navy is at the bottom of the sea, its air force is gone, its anti-aircraft systems and radar are wiped out, and its nuclear labs and storage areas were destroyed by B-2 bombers late one June night.
He said Iranian leaders are dead, including General Soleimani, no ships are allowed into Iranian ports, and the country is losing $500 million a day and hanging by a thread.
Trump also said Barack Obama sent $1.7 billion in cash on a Boeing 757, plus hundreds of billions more that helped put Iran on the road to a nuclear bomb.
He said there could never be a deal with Iran if the strait were reopened under those terms, unless the rest of the country was blown up, “their leaders included.”
