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The president Donald Trump published this Tuesday on his platform Truth Social that Iran informed him it is in a "State of Collapse" and is requesting that the United States open the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, while the regime tries to address its leadership situation.
“Iran has just informed us that it is in a 'State of Collapse.' They want us to 'Open the Strait of Hormuz' as soon as possible, while they attempt to resolve their leadership situation (which I believe they will be able to do!),” Trump wrote on Truth Social, signing the message as “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The message arrives a day after Iran proposed to reopen the strait in exchange for Washington lifting its naval blockade and ending the war, temporarily excluding negotiations over its nuclear program.
That proposal, conveyed to Washington via Pakistan on Monday, was met with dissatisfaction by Trump, who insists that any agreement must include the permanent dismantling of Iran's nuclear program.
The crisis was unleashed on February 28, 2026, with Operation Epic Fury, a joint offensive by the United States and Israel that destroyed Iran's military infrastructure and killed the supreme leader Ali Jamenei along with 49 high-ranking officials and military commanders.
In response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 4 with mines, drones, and missiles, blocking the passage of about 20% of the world's oil and driving the price of Brent crude from 67 to over 126 dollars per barrel.
After the failure of the negotiations in Islamabad on April 12—where the U.S. delegation was unable to reach an agreement after more than 20 hours of discussions—Trump ordered a naval blockade of the strait with 12 warships, 100 aircraft, and 10,000 troops deployed in the Gulf of Oman.
The blockade causes Iran estimated daily losses between 435 and 500 million dollars, according to data from the crisis dossier.
Last Wednesday, Trump ordered the Navy to fire on vessels that place mines in the strait, declaring that the United States is seeking «total control» of the maritime route.
The uncertainty in Iranian leadership is precisely what Trump refers to in his post. Mojtaba Jamenei, son of the assassinated supreme leader, was appointed the new Supreme Leader on March 9 by the Assembly of Experts, but his authority is questioned internally by clerics who doubt his health and capabilities, and Trump dismissed his selection as "unacceptable."
Several clergy members have proposed a temporary leadership council amid uncertainties surrounding the new Supreme Leader, highlighting the institutional fragility of the regime at this time.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Russia on Monday to coordinate with President Vladimir Putin a diplomatic exit to the crisis, in a move that highlights Tehran's isolation and its quest for external support.
The International Energy Agency described the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz as the most severe energy supply crisis in history, with approximately 2,000 ships and 20,000 sailors affected by the closure of the route.
Trump had previously warned that he will only negotiate with Iran if the agreement benefits the United States, dismissing any partial understanding that leaves the regime's nuclear program intact.
The Secretary of State Marco Rubio distinguished in March the "incredible people" of Iran from the clerical regime, opening the door to an understanding if the new leadership adopts a reasonable stance, a sign that Washington keeps a diplomatic channel open, conditioned on nuclear dismantlement.
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