Trump Slams Iran For ‘Serious Ceasefire Violation,’ Vows Deal Will Happen ‘Nice Or Hard Way’: Report

• Trump said Iran committed a “serious violation” of the ceasefire but insisted a broader peace deal will happen “one way or another.” 
• Iran moved again to restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz, citing the continued US naval blockade, while the IRGC said the waterway will remain under strict control until full freedom of navigation is restored.
• Trump warned this could be Iran’s “last chance” to reach a deal, signaling a tougher stance, even as negotiations continue with no new talks scheduled and both sides far from an agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly said on Sunday that Iran had broken the ceasefire in a "serious violation", but he still believes that a larger peace deal is possible.

Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl that he was sure a deal with Tehran would be reached. “It will happen. One way or another.” He said, "The nice way or the hard way," showing both confidence and pressure as tensions stay high between the two countries.

The comments come after Iran again tried to limit access through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, undoing an earlier reopening of the important waterway. 

Additionally, Trump is alleged to have informed Fox News that this is the "last chance" for Iran to reach a peace agreement. He is adamant that he will not repeat the same misstep as former President Barack Obama, whose administration achieved a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015. “If Iran does not sign this deal, the whole country is getting blown up,” Trump cautioned.

US Maintains Blockade On Strait of Hormuz

On Saturday, Tehran said that the US naval blockade was still in place and blamed Washington for not easing restrictions on Iranian shipping. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said that the strait would stay under strict military control until what they called full freedom of navigation (FON) for Iranian ships was restored. This is a principle of maritime law that says ships flying the flag of any sovereign state should not be interfered with by other states.

According to the Al Jazeera report, Trump seemed hopeful about a settlement, but he said that the US embargo will stay in place even if the current ceasefire ends later this week. The situation has already begun to impact global energy flows, as US forces are supposedly turning back multiple vessels, and there has been limited tanker movement reported during the brief reopening period.

The iShares U.S. The Aerospace & Defence ETF (ITA) closed at $231 and increased by approximately 0.29% after hours. Meanwhile, the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (SEA) closed roughly $17.40 in the green but suffered a significant after-hours decline, falling to approximately $16.88, a loss of close to 3%. 

Talks between Washington and Tehran have made some headway, but officials on both sides say there is still a long way to go. Iran's senior negotiator claimed that discussions are still a long way from a resolution. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh blasted the US for making what he called "maximalist" demands and added that no fresh direct meetings are planned.

Read also: Iran Reviews New US Proposals Delivered Via Pakistan Mediation: Report

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