Washington: US President Donald Trump intensified his branding as a global mediator on Friday, sharing promotional material on his Truth Social platform that labelled him "The Peace President" while asserting his personal intervention has neutralised numerous international conflicts.

The digital poster, originally published by the "Trump War Room" handle, was accompanied by a caption stating, "Trust Trump. Not Panicans." The messaging coincided with a speech delivered at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona, where the president claimed to have averted catastrophic loss of life through his unconventional diplomacy.

Claims of Global Mediation

During his remarks in Phoenix, the president took credit for de-escalating long-standing rivalries, specifically citing the nuclear-armed standoff between India and Pakistan.

"I am the peacemaker. I am the one who settled eight wars. I settled a war that would have killed 30 to 50 million people, India-Pakistan," Trump told the audience. He further suggested that recent progress in the Middle East would bring his total to 10 successfully negotiated peace agreements, saving "many, many millions of lives."

Addressing the 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon, Trump characterised the deal as a historic achievement. "Yesterday, we achieved what everyone said was impossible, an unprecedented ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. That hasn't taken place in 78 years...we will make Lebanon great again," he stated.

Naval Blockades and Iranian Negotiations

The president confirmed that diplomatic engagement with Tehran remains active and is expected to continue throughout the weekend. However, he emphasised that the United States would maintain its strategic pressure until a formal "transaction" is finalised.

"The naval blockade with the greatest navy in the world, from the greatest military the world has ever seen... will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete and fully signed," Trump said.

He celebrated the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for international trade as a "great and brilliant day for the world," though he maintained that the U.S. military would continue to enforce the perimeter until an agreement is reached.

Competing Narratives on Maritime Control

While the president signalled a collaborative reopening of the strait, Iranian leadership offered a more restrictive interpretation of the maritime arrangements. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, asserted that Tehran maintains sovereign control over the waterway.

Ghalibaf stipulated that "passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be conducted based on the 'designated route' and with 'Iranian authorisation.'" He further noted that the regulations governing the strait "will be determined by the field, not by social media."

Despite these conflicting stances on maritime authority, a fresh round of high-level negotiations between Washington and Tehran is scheduled to begin Monday in Islamabad. According to CNN, citing Iranian officials, diplomatic delegations are expected to arrive in the Pakistani capital on Sunday to prepare for the summit.

With inputs from ANI