Trump Issues Series of Optimistic Signals, but Statements Clash with Iran's
US President Trump claimed Iran has largely agreed to his demands regarding its nuclear program and anticipates rapid negotiations. However, Iran has only announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, refuting most of Trump's optimistic statements.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 12:38
- 🔍 Collected: April 18, 2026 at 13:01 (23 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 21:18 (8h 17m after Collected)
U.S. President Donald Trump today claimed that Iran has largely agreed to all his demands to permanently end its nuclear program and that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran should proceed very quickly. However, Iran has only stated that commercial shipping will resume in the Strait of Hormuz and has refuted most of Trump's optimistic statements.
The Washington Post reported that in a series of social media posts and media interviews, Trump stated that the United States will cooperate with Iran to retrieve all its highly enriched uranium buried in situ at his so-called "leisurely pace," without the need to dispatch U.S. ground troops. He also said Iran agreed to "indefinitely" halt all nuclear activities and would not receive any money for it.
After Tehran earlier announced that it would reopen commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz (Strait of Hormuz), Trump said that "with the assistance of the United States, Iran is clearing all mines in the strait" and that Iran had agreed to "never close" this waterway again.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the reopening of the strait has limits: first, unless a broader agreement is reached before the ceasefire deadline next week, the reopening will only last until the end of the ceasefire period; second, only vessels along routes approved by Iran are allowed to pass. Iranian state television reported that vessels must obtain permission from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to pass through the strait, and warships are still prohibited.
Brett Erickson, head of risk management consulting firm Obsidian Risk Advisors, said, "Approximately over 100 ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily under normal circumstances. With only one designated route and requiring Iranian authorization, it is impossible to return to normal traffic volume. The public announcement of the strait's reopening and actual passage are different matters. Captains and shipowners consider actual safety, not diplomatic declarations, when making decisions."
Trump refuted reports that the United States would unfreeze US$20 million in Iranian funds in exchange for Iran handing over its enriched uranium. Regarding the removal of approximately 940 pounds of near-weapons-grade highly enriched uranium, buried under the rubble of last year's U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, as stated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Trump said, "We will handle it together. We will enter the site with large machinery and excavate it, then transport it back to the United States."
Trump also said in an interview with CBS News that this operation would not require U.S. ground personnel.
U.S. and Iranian demands, including restricting ballistic missile programs and ceasing support for regional proxy militias, which Iran had previously rejected, were not mentioned by either side today.
Trump complained again via social media today about Europe's lack of support for the US in the Iran conflict, writing, "Now that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is over, I received a call from NATO asking if I needed help. I told them that if they just want to take advantage of the opportunity to fill their own ships with oil, there's no need. When they are truly needed, they are useless, just paper tigers!"
The New York Times pointed out that after the Iranian foreign minister announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to merchant ships, Trump posted a series of optimistic posts on "Truth Social" and gave interviews to several media outlets claiming Iran had agreed to many demands, expecting the conflict to be resolved quickly. However, most of these claims were refuted by Iran.
Trump told AFP today that there are "no sticking points" in reaching a peace agreement with Iran. In an interview with Axios News, Trump stated he expected an agreement to be reached "within a day or two."
Trump also used posts to once again complain about traditional media smearing him, saying, "They are desperately trying to find reasons to criticize President Trump's handling of the situation with Iran, but they can't. They could say, 'Well done, Mr. President,' when appropriate."
However, Iranian chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on social media tonight that Trump's seven statements made within an hour were "all false," adding that the United States would not make progress in negotiations if it proceeded with Trump's lies.
Regarding Trump's claim that Iran had "agreed to everything," including cooperating with the United States to remove enriched uranium, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iranian state media that Tehran had rejected the plan to transfer enriched uranium abroad. (Compiled by Chen Yi-wei) 1150418
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The Washington Post reported that in a series of social media posts and media interviews, Trump stated that the United States will cooperate with Iran to retrieve all its highly enriched uranium buried in situ at his so-called "leisurely pace," without the need to dispatch U.S. ground troops. He also said Iran agreed to "indefinitely" halt all nuclear activities and would not receive any money for it.
After Tehran earlier announced that it would reopen commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz (Strait of Hormuz), Trump said that "with the assistance of the United States, Iran is clearing all mines in the strait" and that Iran had agreed to "never close" this waterway again.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the reopening of the strait has limits: first, unless a broader agreement is reached before the ceasefire deadline next week, the reopening will only last until the end of the ceasefire period; second, only vessels along routes approved by Iran are allowed to pass. Iranian state television reported that vessels must obtain permission from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to pass through the strait, and warships are still prohibited.
Brett Erickson, head of risk management consulting firm Obsidian Risk Advisors, said, "Approximately over 100 ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily under normal circumstances. With only one designated route and requiring Iranian authorization, it is impossible to return to normal traffic volume. The public announcement of the strait's reopening and actual passage are different matters. Captains and shipowners consider actual safety, not diplomatic declarations, when making decisions."
Trump refuted reports that the United States would unfreeze US$20 million in Iranian funds in exchange for Iran handing over its enriched uranium. Regarding the removal of approximately 940 pounds of near-weapons-grade highly enriched uranium, buried under the rubble of last year's U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, as stated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Trump said, "We will handle it together. We will enter the site with large machinery and excavate it, then transport it back to the United States."
Trump also said in an interview with CBS News that this operation would not require U.S. ground personnel.
U.S. and Iranian demands, including restricting ballistic missile programs and ceasing support for regional proxy militias, which Iran had previously rejected, were not mentioned by either side today.
Trump complained again via social media today about Europe's lack of support for the US in the Iran conflict, writing, "Now that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is over, I received a call from NATO asking if I needed help. I told them that if they just want to take advantage of the opportunity to fill their own ships with oil, there's no need. When they are truly needed, they are useless, just paper tigers!"
The New York Times pointed out that after the Iranian foreign minister announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to merchant ships, Trump posted a series of optimistic posts on "Truth Social" and gave interviews to several media outlets claiming Iran had agreed to many demands, expecting the conflict to be resolved quickly. However, most of these claims were refuted by Iran.
Trump told AFP today that there are "no sticking points" in reaching a peace agreement with Iran. In an interview with Axios News, Trump stated he expected an agreement to be reached "within a day or two."
Trump also used posts to once again complain about traditional media smearing him, saying, "They are desperately trying to find reasons to criticize President Trump's handling of the situation with Iran, but they can't. They could say, 'Well done, Mr. President,' when appropriate."
However, Iranian chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on social media tonight that Trump's seven statements made within an hour were "all false," adding that the United States would not make progress in negotiations if it proceeded with Trump's lies.
Regarding Trump's claim that Iran had "agreed to everything," including cooperating with the United States to remove enriched uranium, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iranian state media that Tehran had rejected the plan to transfer enriched uranium abroad. (Compiled by Chen Yi-wei) 1150418
Stand with the facts. Every sponsorship from you is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First-Hand News' APP for real-time updates.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.