U.S. President Donald Trump said there had been “some pretty good news about Iran”, suggesting optimism about peace talks to end the war in Iran, but he said a ceasefire in the conflict may not be extended without a deal by Wednesday. Iran, hours earlier, had temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz following a separate U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement by Israel and Lebanon. But subsequent statements from both sides left uncertainty over how quickly shipping might return to normal through the global oil choke point.
“It seems to be going very well in the Middle East with Iran,” he told reporters while returning to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona. “We’re negotiating over the weekend. I expect things to go well. Many of these things have been negotiated and agreed to.” But in a sharp contrast, he said he may end the ceasefire with Iran unless a long-term deal to end the war is agreed before it expires on Wednesday, adding that a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would continue.