US President Donald Trump affirmed on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened with or without a deal, signaling that upcoming high level negotiations in Pakistan will dictate the next phase of the US strategy toward Iran.
Speaking to reporters prior to boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, President Trump said, “I think it’s going to go pretty quickly. And if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off one way or the other”.
He stressed that they would not allow Iran to have control over this vital international waterway. The President expressed cautious optimism regarding the diplomatic track.
In a stern assessment of the regional military balance, Trump reiterated that the Iranian navy and air force have been “eliminated” and their leadership “neutralized.”
He claimed that US-led operations have “destroyed almost everything,” adding that “momentum is accelerating, and we will conclude this operation one way or another.”
The President previously issued a directive threatening the resumption of “massive strikes” against Iranian targets should the Pakistan-sponsored peace initiative fail to yield a comprehensive negotiated settlement.
