Washington .- The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Thursday that he extends until Monday, April 6, the ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or he will destroy its power plants.
The Republican leader reported through his Truth Social network that, “at the request of the Iranian Government”, he has decided to extend the deadline 10 more days, which means it will expire on April 6 at 8:00 p.m. Washington time (00:00 GMT on April 7).
“The conversations are ongoing and, despite the misrepresentations spread by some media outlets that propagate fake news, are progressing very well,” he added.
Fotografía de archivo de petroleros cruzando el estrecho de Ormuz. EFE/ Ali Haider
Trump issued an ultimatum last week to Iran to fully reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes, under threat of destroying its power plants.
The original deadline was set for Monday, but then it was extended to this Friday, arguing that both countries began negotiating the end of the conflict.
The progress of negotiations with Iran
This Thursday, Trump was asked by the press if he planned to extend his ultimatum again and responded that it would depend on what his negotiators advised him: the vice president, JD Vance; special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“I don’t know yet. I don’t know. Mr. Witkoff, JD, and Jared will tell me if they think it’s on the right track and, if it’s not on the right track, maybe not,” he said.
Fotografía de archivo del enviado especial estadounidense para Oriente Medio, Steve Witkoff (i), junto al yerno de Trump, Jared Kushner. EFE/EPA/ Ludovic Marin
According to the U.S. president, Iran is “begging to reach an agreement” and would have let a dozen oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a sign of goodwill.
The US government sent Iranian authorities, through the mediation of Pakistan, a 15-point plan to end the war, but Tehran has rejected it.
While the White House talks about negotiations, the Pentagon is preparing different military intervention options to execute a “final blow” in the Iran war, which could include the participation of ground forces, according to what the digital media Axios publishes this Thursday.
For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says that the words and behavior of the United States are “a sign of contradiction”, because while it requests to negotiate, it continues the aggression and sends more forces to the region.
