President Donald Trump urged Iran to "put up the white flag" after a US‑Iran memorandum intended to halt hostilities recently expired. He said a direct backchannel with the IRGC is open but insisted he is "not in a hurry" to reach a deal despite looming US midterms. Trump also warned he could use force against Oman if it obstructs plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran and Oman work on a joint maritime declaration and Tehran says it has not yet agreed to resume talks with Washington.
Trump Tells Iran To 'Put Up The White Flag' As US‑Iran MoU Expires; Warns Oman Over Strait Of Hormuz
Tensions between Iran and the US remain high as opposing claims persist over the MoU and shipping control in the Strait of Hormuz (File: EPA)
US President Donald Trump on Monday demanded that Iran "put up the white flag of surrender" after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Washington and Tehran — aimed at halting hostilities — recently expired. The comment came during an interview with Fox News amid a months‑long confrontation involving the US, Israel and Iran.
Trump said his administration had opened a direct backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), but stressed he was not rushing to reach a settlement in the dispute. "They're good poker players, but they're dying," he said of the IRGC.
"I have no time schedule … I'm not in a hurry," the president added, acknowledging the upcoming US midterm elections.
In the interview, Trump also issued a stark warning to Oman — a US partner in the Gulf — saying that if Oman "gets in the way" of efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz he would use force. In his words: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s*** out of them." The remark was widely reported and drew attention for its blunt tone.
Meanwhile, Iranian and Omani officials have been negotiating for weeks on a framework for maritime navigation through the Strait. Tehran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the two countries were working on a joint declaration to protect both states' interests while ensuring the safe passage of commercial shipping.
"This is the first time that a mechanism is being developed to simultaneously safeguard the sovereign rights of the two littoral states and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said.
Both Tehran and Washington accused the other of violating the MoU since it took effect in mid‑June, and neither side indicated a willingness to extend the agreement before it expired. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Telegram that "we have not yet made a decision to restart negotiations with the United States."
Earlier in the week, Trump also suggested he might assert broader US control over the Strait of Hormuz — a vital energy route — a claim Tehran rejected, saying the waterway "will remain Iranian." The exchange underscores the fragile state of negotiations and the continued risk of escalation in the Gulf.
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