by Sharon Rondeau
(Apr. 17, 2026) — On Friday morning, President Donald Trump issued several striking Truth Social announcements indicating the conflict with Iran could be coming to an end within days and the rogue regime would turn over its “nuclear dust,” perhaps indicating it had agreed to stop pursuing nuclear weapons.
On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iranian military targets, including Ayatollah Ali Khameini, killing him and other top regime officials.
The strikes came from “air, land and sea,” according to the U.S. Naval Institute on that first day of the conflict. “…The joint attacks followed a third round of negotiations earlier this week between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program.”
Earlier in the week, Trump claimed the weakened Iranian regime sought renewed talks with the United States after negotiations last Saturday failed to produce a result acceptable to both sides.
On March 12, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the global oil supply travels, causing oil and gasoline prices to rise sharply along with the cost of some consumer goods.
Exactly one month later, Trump announced the United States would impose a “naval blockade” of the Strait to throttle Iran’s economy and elicit a pledge to forfeit its nuclear ambitions.
The blockade took effect Monday at 10:00 a.m. EDT and was reportedly highly effective.
“The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage,” Trump wrote Friday morning, “but the Naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete. This process should go very quickly in that most of the points are already negotiated. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President Donald J. Trump.”
Approximately an hour later, Trump reported:
“The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear “Dust,” created by our great B2 Bombers – No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form. This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah situation in an appropriate manner. Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!! Thank you! President DJT.”
On Thursday, Trump announced a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the latter of which has provided sanctuary for decades to the terrorist group Hezbollah, which sought, along with Iran, Israel’s destruction.
At approximately the same time, Trump thanked the Middle-Eastern nations which provided support to the United States and Israel in their effort to contain Iran, particularly after those nation became targets of Iran’s ire themselves.
He also thanked Pakistan, which hosted U.S. and Iranian officials last weekend.
Additionally, Trump said, Iran was assisting the United States in removing mines it planted in the Strait.
According to CBS News on March 23, “U.S. officials have told CBS News that there are at least a dozen underwater mines through the vital passageway, according to current American intelligence assessments…Another U.S. official said the count was less than a dozen.”
Finally, Trump declared Friday “a great and brilliant day for the world!”
Going forward, he said, “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!”
As he does frequently, Trump criticized The New York Times and other outlets for their coverage of the conflict.
“The Failing New York Times, FAKE NEWS CNN, and others, just don’t know what to do,” he posted. “They are desperately looking for a reason to criticize President Donald J. Trump on the Iran situation, but just can’t find it. Why don’t they just say, at the right time, JOB WELL DONE, MR. PRESIDENT, and start to gain back their credibility???”
On Friday Ashley Ahn of The Times wrote:
Trump has made numerous exaggerated and unverified claims over the course of the war since it began on Feb. 28. He has long called for zero uranium enrichment in Iran, and asserted at a Turning Point USA event on Friday that Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon.” Iran has previously offered to temporarily suspend uranium enrichment but has said it could never accept Trump’s zero-enrichment position. Experts have also said that retrieving Iran’s 970 pounds of enriched uranium would be a complex, lengthy process that would likely take longer than the reported 60-day window for American and Iranian negotiators to strike a deal.
and:
President Trump went on a media tear on Friday, granting interviews and unleashing a flurry of social media posts that framed peace talks with Iran as all but complete.
After an announcement by Iran’s foreign minister that the Strait of Hormuz had been reopened, Mr. Trump made a series of optimistic posts on his social media platform, Truth Social. He also spoke to several news outlets, asserting that Tehran had agreed to many demands and predicting a quick resolution to the conflict.
Pranav Baskar reported:
In comments to Iranian state media, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said Tehran had rejected the option of transferring its enriched uranium stockpile abroad. The statement came after President Trump told CBS News in a phone interview that Iran would cooperate with America to remove enriched uranium from Iran.
Farnaz Fassihi wrote:
Three senior Iranian officials familiar with negotiations said Iran and the United States are finalizing a three-page memorandum of understanding that lays out a broad framework for a lasting peace deal. The memo defines a 60-day period for negotiations to continue and reach a deal, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. They expressed optimism that Tehran and Washington would sign the memorandum when they meet in Pakistan for a second round of talks expected to be scheduled in the next few days.
On Friday evening, The Wall Street Journal characterized Trump’s dealings with Iran as “strong-arming.”
The outlet, which Trump has criticized in the past on its coverage of his administration, termed Iran’s denial of Trump’s assertions “walk-backs.”
“Trump at various points in the war has declared it on the cusp of being over or Iran on the verge of making a final deal, only for Tehran to dig in its heels,” The Journal continued. “His bold declarations are part of his negotiating strategy, administration officials said, aimed at jolting negotiators into action and ratcheting up pressure on Iran to agree to a final deal.
“But the strategy has sown confusion and doubt among close U.S. allies and some officials involved in the negotiations, who question whether Iran has really folded when the U.S. president says it has.”