'We're Going To Open Up Gulf With Or Without A Deal': Trump On Islamabad Peace Talks

Last Updated:April 11, 2026, 05:59 IST

The US President said that the process was expected to move quickly but left the door open to more forceful action if it did not.

The United States will reopen the Strait of Hormuz regardless of the outcome of ongoing negotiations, US President Donald Trump declared as Vice President JD Vance departed for Islamabad to lead a high-stakes American delegation in talks with Iran aimed at ending over a month of conflict in West Asia.

Trump painted a picture of a comprehensively weakened Iran while expressing confidence that the critical waterway- through which roughly one fifth of the world’s oil passes- would be reopened swiftly.

Read more: Trump Says Strait Of Hormuz To Open ‘Fairly Soon’, Vows To Do So ‘With Or Without’ Iran

“They’re militarily defeated, and now we’re going to open up the Gulf with or without a deal. But that’ll be open. The Navy’s gone, the Air Force is gone, all anti-aircraft is gone, the leaders are gone, and the whole place is gone," Trump said.

The US President added that the process was expected to move quickly but left the door open to more forceful action if it did not.

“I think it’s going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off one way or the other," he said.

What Vance Said On Islamabad Talks

Vance struck a measured tone before departure, extending an olive branch while issuing a pointed warning to Tehran. He said, “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive."

Read more: Trump Wishes Vance Luck For Islamabad Talks, Declares Iran ‘Militarily Defeated’

The Iranian delegation is being led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Defence Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, alongside several members of parliament.

In a post on X, Qalibaf stated that two commitments agreed upon by both sides have yet to be fulfilled, and that talks cannot begin until they are met.

“Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," he wrote.

News world 'We're Going To Open Up Gulf With Or Without A Deal': Trump On Islamabad Peace Talks

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