Donald Trump Claims Peace President Status Amid Iran Military Warnings

Donald Trump declared himself “The Peace President,” claiming to have settled eight wars while simultaneously issuing stern warnings of military action against Iran if ongoing negotiations fail. He highlighted potential progress in West Asia, including a reported ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, though Iran disputed claims about the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the remarks on Truth Social on Friday, asserting that his administration had secured major concessions from Iran ahead of a possible next round of ceasefire talks. He claimed Iran had agreed to open — and “never close” — the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tehran would turn over its “nuclear dust,” while Israel would be “prohibited” from launching attacks in Lebanon.

Iran confirmed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for the “duration” of the current pause in fighting, which is set to end early next week unless a new agreement is reached. However, Iranian officials pushed back on Trump’s claims regarding its nuclear stockpile, with a source telling Al Jazeera that negotiations remain at a preliminary stage.

Despite the outstanding questions, Trump struck a celebratory tone, calling Friday “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!” He separately told Bloomberg News that he expected talks to move forward on Sunday with a permanent ceasefire deal in sight.

Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, told Al Jazeera that while Trump’s statements suggest positive momentum, they reflect his penchant for hyperbole and several unresolved issues remain. He noted that this does indicate movement toward a potential comprehensive deal.

The developments come amid a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. And Iran, reached ahead of Trump’s self-imposed deadline. NBC News reported that Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” for commercial vessels, though Trump insisted the U.S. Blockade of Iranian ports would remain “in full force” until a peace deal is achieved.

Stocks surged and oil prices dropped 12% following the news of the strait’s reopening, though shipping companies noted outstanding questions that need to be resolved. Iran warned it would take “necessary measures” if the blockade is not lifted.

Trump said negotiations on the Iran war would continue through the weekend and indicated that the current ceasefire with Iran, which expires Wednesday, may not be extended. He also affirmed that the U.S. Had prohibited Israel from bombing Lebanon as part of the broader diplomatic effort.

An Israel-Lebanon ceasefire appeared to be holding, with civilians returning to destroyed villages in southern Lebanon despite ongoing destruction. Hezbollah said it was keeping its finger “on the trigger” amid the fragile truce.

Iran’s forensics chief reported that more than 3,300 people have been killed in Iran since U.S.-Israeli strikes began on February 28, underscoring the human cost of the conflict even as diplomatic efforts proceed.