President Trump claimed Tuesday that Iran told the U.S. it is "in a state of collapse" and wants to open the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as possible."
The big picture: It's unclear what Trump is basing his comments on. Iran hasn't confirmed it is willing to reopen the strait.
- Trump's claim comes days after Iran proposed a deal that would reopen the strait and lift the blockade first, postponing nuclear talks to a later stage.
What he is saying: "Iran has just informed us that they are in a 'State of Collapse.' They want us to 'Open the Hormuz Strait,' as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!)" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Driving the news: Trump discussed the Iranian proposal with his national security team Monday. A U.S. official and two other sources briefed on the meeting said no decisions were made.
- One source said Trump didn't seem inclined to accept Iran's proposal because it would postpone talks over its nuclear program — the elimination of which has been Trump's chief reason for ordering attacks on Iran.
- "The president's red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
