Trump warns Iran to open Strait of Hormuz as Iran weighs nuclear treaty exit

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States was in talks with a “more reasonable regime” to end the war in Iran but repeated his warning to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk US attacks on its oil wells and power plants.

“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

Trump also threatened to attack the desalination plants that supply clean water in Iran. The US president said last week he would pause attacks on Iran’s energy plants for 10 days, which would be until April 6, US time.

While Trump has said the US and Iran are making progress in talks, he has also been sending more US troops to the region, leading Iran’s parliament speaker to accuse Washington of sending messages about possible negotiations while planning a ground invasion, prompting more defiance from Tehran. Iranian leaders have denied being in direct talks with the US.

Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament is reviewing a possible exit from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Monday, while insisting Tehran has not and will not seek nuclear weapons.

Iranian lawmakers had also raised the possibility of leaving the NPT, which recognises the right to develop, research, produce and use nuclear energy as long as nuclear weapons are not pursued, after the 12-day war last June when Israel and the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities.

“What is the benefit of joining a treaty in which bullying parties at the international level not only do not allow us to benefit from its rights but also attack our nuclear facilities?” Baghaei said, adding that Tehran would respect the treaty as long as it is a member.