U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that American military forces will remain stationed in and around Iran until a “real agreement” is fully secured, underscoring rising tensions despite a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
In a statement posted late Wednesday on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized that U.S. military assets including ships, aircraft, personnel, and advanced weaponry would not be withdrawn until Iran complies with a comprehensive deal.
“All U.S. ships, aircraft, and military personnel… will remain in place in and around Iran until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT is fully complied with,” he wrote.
The announcement comes as a fragile two-week truce, brokered earlier this week, shows early signs of strain. Reports of renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon and disagreements over Iran’s conditions for ending hostilities have cast doubt on the durability of the ceasefire.
While Trump described the likelihood of negotiations collapsing as “highly unlikely,” he issued a firm warning that failure to reach an agreement could trigger intensified military action. He pledged “bigger, better, and stronger” strikes if diplomacy breaks down.
Meanwhile, Iran has agreed to reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz during the truce, easing immediate concerns over global oil supply disruptions. The narrow waterway is a vital artery for international energy trade, carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil.
However, Tehran has maintained that it will retain control over the passage and continues to push for recognition of its uranium enrichment programme one of the most contentious issues in ongoing negotiations. The demand was notably absent from Iran’s formal submission to the United Nations, while Trump has insisted that the matter would be “taken care of” in any final agreement.
Ahead of planned talks in Pakistan, Trump reiterated his administration’s red lines, stating that Iran “will have no nuclear weapons” and that the Strait of Hormuz “will be open and safe.”
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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