U.S. President Donald Trump said, ahead of cease-fire talks with Iran, that the Strait of Hormuz would "open fairly quickly."
On the 10th, local time, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., "It will open automatically," adding, "If we leave, the strait will have to open, and if it doesn't open, they can't make money." He continued, "The United States does not use the strait, but other countries do," and said, "They will step up (to open the strait)."
Regarding Iran's suggestion of blocking the Strait of Hormuz and imposing transit fees, he warned, "We will not let that happen," and said, "As it is an international strait, such control will not be tolerated."
This is seen as a remark made with the right of transit passage—which guarantees the passage of ships even through a specific country's territorial waters—in mind.
On the possibility that the talks could collapse, Trump said, "No alternative is needed," claiming that Iran's military power and weapons production capability had already been neutralized. He stressed that "99% is banning nuclear weapons" as the core goal of the talks.
Meanwhile, the first meeting of the U.S.-Iran cease-fire talks is scheduled to be held on the 11th in Islamabad.