On April 17, 2026, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to declare NATO „useless“ and tell its members to „stay away“ from the Strait of Hormus, even as Iran signaled openness to keeping the vital waterway clear and European leaders prepared a joint security mission.
Trump rejects NATO role in Hormus security amid Iran talks
Trump dismissed offers of naval assistance from the alliance, saying on Truth Social that he had told NATO officials they were not needed unless they wanted to simply load their ships with oil. He reiterated his longstanding criticism of the bloc as a „paper tiger,“ claiming it had proven useless when called upon during the Iran conflict. The remarks came hours after a Paris meeting where over 30 world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, discussed a coordinated effort to secure the strait for commercial shipping.
Iran links Hormus access to continued US sanctions relief
Iranian officials warned that the strait would remain closed if US sanctions on Iranian ports continued, with Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf stating on X that the waterway would not stay open under ongoing blockade. Iran’s chief negotiator added that transit would only be permitted on routes and with approval set by Tehran. The warning followed a reversal by nearly 20 commercial vessels — including containerships, bulk carriers, and tankers — that turned back before entering the strait on April 18, though the exact reason for the retreat remains unclear.
Diplomatic contradictions emerge over uranium and peace claims
Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied reports of a potential uranium transfer to the US, calling it never an option and directly contradicting Trump’s claim to Reuters that such a move was part of ongoing negotiations. Despite the denial, Trump maintained in an AFP interview that a peace deal with Iran was „very near,“ citing no remaining obstacles and pointing to Iran’s announced opening of the strait as proof of progress. He said the waterway was already open and that the agreement would benefit all parties.
Strait’s reopening tied to fragile Lebanon ceasefire
Both sources note that Iran’s offer to retain the Strait of Hormus open applies only for the duration of the existing ceasefire in the Lebanon war, framing the maritime concession as conditional rather than permanent. The arrangement reflects a tactical alignment between de-escalation in one theater and leverage in another, with Tehran using control of the chokepoint to influence broader negotiations. This mirrors past patterns where Iran has used Hormus access as a bargaining chip during regional conflicts, most notably during the 2019 tanker standoff that preceded heightened tensions in the Gulf.
Why did ships turn back before entering the strait?
The convoy of roughly 20 vessels, including three French-flagged containerships from CMA CGM, abandoned their attempt to pass through Hormus on April 18, but neither shipping data nor official statements have clarified whether the retreat was due to Iranian warnings, operational concerns, or other factors.
Is the US-Iran peace deal actually close?
While Trump insists negotiations are at an advanced stage with no remaining sticking points, Iran’s rejection of uranium transfer claims and its conditional stance on Hormus access suggest significant gaps remain, particularly around verification and sanctions relief.
