Trump Sends Flurry of Messages on Iran, Hormuz Passage, and NATO in Past 24 Hours

BlockBeats, April 18 — U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a series of comments over the past 24 hours that shaped expectations around the Middle East and broader geopolitics. On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the waterway has reopened, while stressing that U.S. maritime restrictions on Iran will remain in place until any deal is "100% completed." He also said no tolls will be imposed on vessels transiting the strait. On the nuclear file, Trump said Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely. He added that the United States would take part in removing Iran's enriched uranium and bringing it to the U.S., while reiterating that no frozen Iranian funds would be released. Trump indicated talks will continue through the weekend. He warned that if no agreement is reached by next Wednesday, a return to hostilities cannot be ruled out. Addressing discrepancies between U.S. and Iranian messaging, he said Iran "needs to say different things domestically." On regional security, Trump said the U.S. has barred Israel from continuing strikes on Lebanon and plans to handle Hezbollah independently. Trump also used the moment to send broader political signals, calling NATO "useless at critical moments" and criticizing some allies for a lack of coordination. He again accused The New York Times and CNN of inaccurate reporting. He thanked Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Pakistan for supporting the operation. Separately, Trump said the first batch of UFO-related documents will be released soon, and that he will sign an executive order and hold a press conference on Saturday. Overall, Trump's frequent statements are driving market and diplomatic expectations, projecting a mix of hardline posture and uncertainty as ceasefire efforts, negotiations, and blockade measures proceed in parallel. (Jinshi)