Trump claims Iran has made contact as US escalates pressure in Strait of Hormuz

US president says he had been informed that communication had taken place from the Iranian side, but he did not provide details about who initiated the contact or what was discussed

WASHINGTON: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 14^th, 2026) US President Donald Trump has said that Iranian representatives have reached out to Washington, suggesting Tehran may be interested in striking a deal, even as the United States tightened its naval posture in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking outside the Oval Office, Trump said he had been informed that communication had taken place from the Iranian side, but he did not provide details about who initiated the contact or what was discussed.

“I can tell you we’ve been contacted… and they want to make a deal,” Trump said, referring to Iran.

The comments come after reported inconclusive talks between US and Iranian officials held in Islamabad, which ended without agreement. The breakdown has heightened uncertainty over the next phase of negotiations, with an informal truce period reportedly nearing its end on April 22. Both sides have since accused each other of failing to reach consensus.

Tensions further escalated after Trump announced a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. The US Navy confirmed that enforcement began at 2pm GMT on Monday, focusing on vessels moving to or from Iranian ports.

The decision drew a strong reaction from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which warned of retaliation against any hostile action in the region.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said US forces would stop ships attempting to enter or leave the strait and warned that Iranian fast-attack boats approaching the blockade would be dealt with forcefully.

He also accused Tehran of trying to exert pressure on global shipping through control measures in the waterway.

Following the announcement, maritime tracking services reported that several vessels altered course near the Strait of Hormuz, including a tanker that had been heading toward China after departing from the United Arab Emirates.

The US officials later clarified that the restrictions apply specifically to ships linked to Iranian ports, narrowing the scope of the blockade.

The move has caused concern among US allies. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would not take part in the blockade, stressing that London does not want to be drawn into military escalation.

France also signalled it would stay out of direct military involvement, although President Emmanuel Macron proposed a multinational initiative aimed at securing safe navigation in the region once conditions allow.

European and regional partners, including countries such as India, Greece, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and several Gulf states, are expected to discuss a coordinated maritime security framework in upcoming meetings, which could take place in Paris or London later this week, according to diplomatic sources.