US President Donald Trump delivered tough remarks on Monday regarding the situation in Iran and the Gulf region, as the 60-day temporary ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran expired without formal negotiations commencing or a new deal being reached. Trump stated he has no intention of extending the truce, and warned that if Oman attempts to obstruct US efforts, Washington could resort to extremely forceful military action.
In an interview, Trump acknowledged the existence of informal contacts between the US and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but said he is in no rush to reach an agreement. Later, confirming his position again in the White House Oval Office, Trump gave a definitive "no" when asked whether he sought to extend the 60-day ceasefire with Iran. Regarding Oman, Trump noted that the Gulf nation, which has long maintained a strategic partnership with the US, "has not been behaving well" recently, and claimed Washington could handle the matter "very easily." Earlier in the interview, he employed even harsher language, warning that if Oman hindered US actions, America might launch large-scale military strikes.
The 60-day memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran in mid-June was initially viewed as a significant step toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz and creating conditions for a long-term agreement on Iran's nuclear program. However, within weeks of the deal, both sides began accusing each other of violating the terms, and military operations in the region quickly resumed. Trump had already declared the ceasefire effectively over by mid-July. Despite Trump repeatedly stating in recent weeks that Iran wishes to reach a peace deal with the US, there are clear discrepancies between the two sides' accounts of whether negotiations are actually underway.
On Monday, Trump said Iran "wants a deal" but is currently unwilling to accept the conditions the US deems necessary. Washington continues to insist that the primary goal of any agreement must be ensuring Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons in any form. Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, also indicated on Monday that Iran has not yet shown a willingness to accept an agreement meeting US requirements. Iran, for its part, denies that negotiations with the US are currently taking place.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that there is "no so-called ceasefire" between the US and Iran, and no formal talks have been held. He noted that Qatar and Pakistan are conveying messages between the two sides and maintaining contact, but this does not signify the launch of formal negotiations. Meanwhile, Iran says it is engaged in active consultations with Oman regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is one of the world's most critical energy transit routes, handling approximately 20% of global oil trade before the war, though commercial vessel traffic has now fallen dramatically compared to pre-war levels. Data shows shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz nearly ground to a halt over the past weekend. According to Kpler data, only 3 vessels passed through the key waterway on Sunday, with an average of about 12 ships per day over the past five days, compared to roughly 130 daily transits before the war began on February 28.
Adding to the strain, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi emphasized on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain "Iranian," and that its opening or closure "can only be decided by Iran," underscoring that tensions over control of this vital energy artery remain unresolved. With the 60-day temporary agreement now expired, formal US-Iran talks yet to commence, and shipping volumes through the strait collapsing, market concerns over Middle East energy supply are likely to intensify further. As a crucial chokepoint for global oil trade, whether the strait can return to normal transit will continue to be a major factor influencing international oil prices, shipping costs, and the global inflation outlook.