On the 33rd day of war in the Middle East, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, April 1st that Iran had requested a ceasefire.
Donald Trump stated in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, April 1st that Iran had requested a ceasefire, while the United States is in its 33rd day of war in the Middle East.
“The President of the new Iranian regime, less radical and much smarter than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a ceasefire,” said the White House tenant.
Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, stated in an interview broadcast on Wednesday by Al Jazeera that they are not in “negotiations” with the United States, but mentioned “exchanges” including threats.
According to Massoud Pezechkian, the Iranian President, his country is willing to “end the war,” but first wants guarantees to “prevent the repetition of aggression.”
Context: United States and Iran in conflict, Iran requesting ceasefire.
Fact Check: Information about statements from Iranian officials and President Trump.
Iran assures that the strait will remain closed to “enemies”
Donald Trump explained in his message that he was not immediately ready to open discussions for a ceasefire. The U.S. President specified that his country will only consider it “when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free, and clear.”
However, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, responded by stating that the strait would remain closed to the country’s “enemies.” “The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is (…) completely under the control of the naval forces of the Guards, and this strait will not be open to the enemies of this nation despite the ridiculous gestures of the President of the United States,” they warned in a statement relayed by state television.
The blockage of this crucial passage for global petrochemistry has caused a major shock for several weeks, with energy prices sharply rising.
The White House tenant is playing hot and cold about the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the United States is self-sufficient in oil production and advising France and other countries dependent on these supplies to “figure it out on their own.”
American strikes continue
Nevertheless, Donald Trump continues to threaten Iran with further strikes. “So far, we are reducing Iran to nothing, or as they say, we’re bringing them back to the stone age,” he added in his message.
Sidereal complexes in central and southwestern Iran have been damaged by Israeli-American strikes, reported the Iranian news agency Fars on Thursday.
“According to initial information, there were massive attacks, causing significant damage and destroying production units” at the Mobarakeh Steel Company complex, one of the country’s largest, located in the province of Isfahan (central), Fars said, citing a company statement.
Another steel facility, Sefid Dasht, a subsidiary of Mobarakeh in the Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province (southwest), was also targeted and suffered “significant damage,” according to the same source.
