Iran US War LIVE: Hormuz Strait reopens but blockade remains in force — Trump says ‘Iranians want to meet’

US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) criticised NATO allies while commenting on developments in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the alliance was ineffective during earlier tensions and arguing that “they needed us” instead.

Speaking on the situation at the Turning Point USA event here, Trump said he had been contacted by NATO after Iran’s announcement to restore commercial access through the strategic waterway.

“Now that the Strait of Hormuz situation is almost over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would like some help…I told them I would have liked your help two months ago, but now I really don’t want your help anymore, because they were absolutely useless when we needed them. But actually, we never needed them. They needed us…”

In a separate post, he said, “Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a paper tiger!”

Former senior diplomat Surendra Kumar on Friday said statements emerging from the West Asia conflict, including remarks by US President Donald Trump, should be viewed cautiously as diplomatic brinkmanship continues amid ongoing negotiations.

Commenting on recent claims about a possible US-Iran deal and easing tensions in the region, Kumar said conflicting positions from different sides reflected an unsettled situation.

“You see, when a conflict zone where a so-called ceasefire is still two to three days left, a lot of brinkmanship is going on. Statements should be taken with a pinch of salt because what they claim, what Iran claims, they’re not on the same page. There is a lot of difference, and it’s also on both sides, two-pronged,” Kumar told ANI.

The Middle East war has so far boosted Boeing’s defence business and hasn’t affected deliveries to airline customers confronting high jet fuel prices, the company’s CEO said.

Kelly Ortberg cited a recent agreement with the US military to triple production of PAC-3 seekers, which identify and strike hostile aircraft and weapons, as an example of increased demand due to the war, AFP reported.

Drone and rocket strikes in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region killed three Iranian Kurds, including two women fighters, an exiled opposition group said, blaming the attack on Iran.

Wall Street topped records Friday after Iran’s announcement reopening the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices tumbling from a peak of nearly $120 a barrel to $90.38 for the Brent.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that his country was on the verge of a “new phase” of “permanent agreements” and no longer an “arena” for anyone’s wars, after a ceasefire in with Israel-Hezbollah war went into force.

Aoun added that direct talks with Israel were “not a sign of weakness nor a concession… negotiations do not mean, and will never mean, giving up any right, conceding any principle, or compromising the sovereignty of this nation”. (AFP)

Iran will close the strategic Strait of Hormuz again if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Saturday.

“With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open,” Ghalibaf wrote on X, adding that passage through the waterway would depend on authorisation from Iran. (AFP)

Trump suggested a second round of talks could happen this weekend. The Iranians want to meet,” he said in a brief telephone interview with the news outlet Axios.

“They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend,” Trump added.

Iran said Friday it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but U.S. President Donald Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the crucial waterway, through which about 20% of the world’s oil is shipped, was now fully open to commercial vessels, as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold. (AP)