WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump once predicted that the United States and Iran could reach an agreement within days to extend a ceasefire and reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl, Trump described negotiations with Tehran as difficult but said a temporary setback had been overcome and suggested a deal could come together within roughly a week.
“There was a little glitch today,” Trump said, portraying the problem as something negotiators could resolve.
At the center of the discussions was the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Any prolonged disruption has major consequences for global oil supplies, shipping and energy prices.
Trump said negotiators still had several issues to resolve but expressed confidence that a memorandum of understanding could be completed quickly.
The optimism, however, did not translate into a lasting settlement.
A June memorandum had established a framework for a ceasefire and further negotiations, but disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz and other issues eventually caused the agreement to unravel. Iran later insisted the waterway would remain closed until Washington met its demands, while Trump declared the earlier deal over.
By September, the situation had deteriorated significantly. Reuters reported renewed attacks involving U.S. and Iranian forces near the Gulf, with commercial shipping through Hormuz sharply reduced. Oil prices also climbed above $100 a barrel amid fears of further disruption.
Trump has continued to discuss the possibility of diplomacy, but current reporting indicates that active negotiations were not underway as fighting continued.
The episode underscores how quickly expectations surrounding U.S.-Iran diplomacy can change—and how difficult it has proven to turn temporary ceasefires into lasting agreements.
