President Donald Trump on Monday blasted Iran’s “duplicitous” leaders for refusing to acknowledge what he described as the war’s reality, including his claim that the U.S. “wall of steel” blockade controls the Strait of Hormuz.
In a Truth Social post, Trump accused Tehran of publicly denying negotiations with the United States while privately seeking talks and relief from mounting military and economic pressure.
“Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!” Trump wrote. “They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions.”
Trump said Iranian officials continue to claim they are dealing only with Oman as a mediator while simultaneously insisting they control the Strait of Hormuz.
“They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our ‘Blockade’ or, as some say, ‘The United States Wall of Steel!'” Trump wrote.
The president declared that no shipments would reach Iran without U.S. approval until Tehran agrees to a deal or “total surrender.”
“Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished,” Trump wrote.
Trump reiterated his longstanding position that Iran will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
“Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades,” he wrote. “It is very simple, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”
The post followed Trump’s announcement Sunday that he postponed what he described as a massive military strike against Iran after requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iran to give diplomacy more time.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the planned operation would have been “the biggest attack since World War II,” but Gulf allies believed a broader agreement involving both the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program remained within reach.
“I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, by Qatar, and by Iran to hold off strikes,” Trump said. “When the allies asked to call it off, you gotta say, ‘Well, let’s see.'”
Trump said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged him to pursue negotiations rather than immediate military action.
The president also confirmed talks with Iranian representatives were scheduled to resume Monday afternoon.
While emphasizing that the U.S. military remains prepared to act if necessary, Trump said he prefers a diplomatic resolution that prevents further bloodshed while ensuring Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon.