Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 25: Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has given the United States a “very significant” and “valuable” gift related to oil and gas, in what appears to be a development tied to the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described the move as a “present worth a tremendous amount of money,” but declined to reveal specifics. “It was related to the flow and to the strait,” he said, adding that it indicated Washington was “dealing with the right people”.
The remarks came a day after Trump delayed a threatened strike on Iran’s power infrastructure by five days and signalled a return to negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Tehran, however, has denied engaging in any truce-related talks.
Trump clarified that the “gift” was not connected to Iran’s nuclear programme, while reiterating his claim that Tehran had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons.
Soon after his statement, Iran, through communication with the International Maritime Organization, assured safe passage for “non-hostile vessels” through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route linking the Persian Gulf to international markets. The assurance comes even as shipping traffic has sharply declined due to security concerns and rising insurance risks.
The waterway has remained largely disrupted since the outbreak of hostilities involving the US and Israel, with tanker movement severely affected and global oil and gas prices witnessing a surge.
Washington had earlier attempted to form an international naval coalition to secure the strait, but key allies reportedly declined participation. Trump later suggested the US could manage the situation independently, even hinting that other nations might eventually take over responsibilities.
While the US president claimed progress in backchannel talks, he did not disclose the identity of Iranian interlocutors, referring only to engagement with a “top person”. He asserted that recent developments within Iran’s leadership indicated a shift, following the reported killing of Ali Khamenei during the early phase of the conflict.
Trump said senior officials including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner were involved in the ongoing discussions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has offered to mediate, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stating he had spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and expressed willingness to facilitate peace efforts.
Despite diplomatic signals, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that military pressure remains part of the strategy, remarking that negotiations were also being pursued “with bombs”.