President Donald Trump warned Iran that it is facing its "last chance before decapitation" as he pressed for a swift agreement. This statement came shortly after he revealed that he had postponed a large-scale airstrike at the request of Middle Eastern nations.
"Last Chance Before Decapitation" Warning After Airstrike Delay
On August 3, during a press briefing at the White House, Trump stated, "We are currently in talks with Iran," adding, "This is their last chance to sign a good agreement." He continued, "I want to give them every last chance before decapitation," indicating that previous military actions were merely routine and expressing hope that Iran would come to its senses.
The term "decapitation" is interpreted as a reference to the removal of Iran's leadership. This threat suggests that if negotiations fail, the U.S. may launch stronger attacks targeting Iran's leadership and nuclear and military facilities.
Trump also mentioned that he canceled a large-scale attack on Iran at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, claiming that the planned operation would have been the largest since World War II.
On social media, he criticized Iran's leadership as "duplicitous" and stated that he would continue to apply pressure until an agreement or "complete surrender" is achieved.
Open Hormuz Strait First, Then Discuss Denuclearization
Trump proposed that the Hormuz Strait be fully opened before discussions on Iran's denuclearization take place. He noted that the strait could be completely open to all vessels as early as August 4, but added that more time would be needed for denuclearization negotiations.
He also stated that Iran would not be allowed to impose tolls or additional service fees on vessels passing through the strait.
The two sides are at odds over who will determine the shipping routes and conditions beyond the opening of the strait. The U.S. insists that free passage for vessels must be guaranteed in all routes and demands that Iran publicly commit to halting attacks on ships.
In contrast, Iran claims the right to designate shipping routes and manage vessel operations, seeking recognition of its authority to impose service fees on ships.
Oman has proposed a joint management plan for the strait involving Iran and Gulf nations, but Iran opposes the involvement of third countries in such management.
Iran Denies Ongoing Negotiations with the U.S.
Iran has denied Trump's assertion that negotiations are ongoing with the U.S. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated, "There are no ongoing negotiations or scheduled meetings with the U.S." He added that there are no plans to host foreign delegations or send Iranian negotiation teams abroad.
The only discussions acknowledged by Iran are ongoing talks with Oman regarding temporary safe routes in the Hormuz Strait.
Baghaei asserted that even if an agreement is reached with Oman on temporary routes, the situation in the strait will not fundamentally change as long as U.S. attacks continue.
Iran remains firm on its stance regarding control over the strait's shipping routes.
Mohsen Rezai, a military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader and a former commander of the Revolutionary Guard, stated, "We will not allow any routes other than those designated by Iran to be established." He warned that if U.S. vessels enter routes not approved by Iran, they could be attacked if necessary. However, this statement reflects Rezai's personal views and has not been confirmed as official policy by the Iranian government or military.
Outlook for Early Opening Contrasts with Slow Shipping Traffic
Despite Trump's optimistic outlook for an early opening, shipping traffic through the Hormuz Strait has not yet shown significant recovery.
According to shipping data firm Kpler, only six vessels, including three oil tankers and three bulk carriers, passed through the strait on August 3, a decrease of one from the previous day. All confirmed vessels used routes designated by Iran, although vessels that turned off their tracking devices may not have been included in the count.
On August 4, an incident occurred involving a cargo ship being struck by an unidentified projectile approximately 37 kilometers northeast of Al Qasab, Oman. The identity of the attacker and the extent of the damage remain unconfirmed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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