Trump says Iran in ‘State of Collapse,’ requests US to reopen Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Iran had recently conveyed to Washington that it is in a “state of collapse” and is seeking urgent discussions over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, even as uncertainty persists over backchannel communications and the status of negotiations between the two countries.
In a post on social media, Trump said Tehran had asked the United States to “open the Hormuz Strait” as soon as possible while “they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!)".
He suggested that Iran was facing political instability and indicated confidence that its internal differences over engagement with Washington could be resolved.
The White House did not immediately clarify who delivered the reported message from Iran, who received it within the US administration, or whether the communication was direct or facilitated through intermediaries.
According to officials cited in the broader diplomatic exchanges, Iran has floated a proposal aimed at de-escalating tensions that includes ending the ongoing conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, in exchange for relief from US pressure measures. However, the proposal reportedly delays substantive talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, a condition US officials appear reluctant to accept.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back against any arrangement that would allow Iran to retain the capacity to advance toward nuclear weapons development. Speaking in a Fox News interview on Monday, Rubio said any agreement must “definitively prevent them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point,” signalling continued US skepticism toward Iran’s offer.
The White House said Trump’s national security team had reviewed the proposal, which was reportedly delivered through Pakistan. Trump is expected to address the matter further, though no final decision has been announced.
The diplomatic overture comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Russia, a long-standing ally of Tehran. It remains unclear what role Moscow may play in supporting or shaping any potential negotiations between Iran and the United States.
With AP inputs