Trump demands Iran 'put up white flag' as US-Iran MoU expires
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US President Donald Trump demanded on Monday that Iran surrender, as the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending hostilities expired. He said his administration has opened a direct backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and threatened to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has not yet decided to restart negotiations with the United States.
Key Facts
- Trump told Fox News on Monday that Iran should 'put up the white flag of surrender' in the five-month US-Israel war on Iran.
- The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran expired with neither side indicating willingness to extend it.
- Trump said his administration had opened a direct backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but that he was in no hurry to reach a deal.
- Trump threatened to bomb US ally Oman if it 'gets in the way' of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran had not yet decided to restart negotiations with the United States.
Trump's Demands and Threats
Trump told Fox News on Monday that Iran should 'put up the white flag of surrender' in the five-month US-Israel war on Iran. He said his administration had opened a direct backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but denied a rush to end the conflict before November's midterm elections. Trump described the IRGC as 'good poker players, but they're dying,' and said 'I have no time schedule … I'm not in a hurry.' He also threatened to bomb US ally Oman if it 'gets in the way' of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded.
Expired Truce and Failed Talks
The memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, agreed several months ago to end hostilities, expired with neither side indicating willingness to extend it. Both sides have accused the other of violating the truce since it came into effect in mid-June. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday in a Telegram post that Tehran has not yet made a decision to restart negotiations with the United States. Trump last Friday claimed he would declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, while Iran retorted that the waterway it has blockaded 'will remain Iranian.'
Iran-Oman Shipping Mechanism
Iranian and Omani officials have been talking for weeks on future maritime navigation arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. The Foreign Ministry in Tehran said earlier on Monday that the two sides were working on a joint declaration. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the proposed mechanism would seek to protect the interests of both Iran and Oman while maintaining commercial shipping. Baghaei called it the first mechanism developed to simultaneously safeguard the sovereign rights of the two littoral states and ensure safe passage of commercial vessels.
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Trump demands Iran 'put up white flag' as US-Iran MoU expires
