Trump says now making 'final determination' on Iran deal

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he was now making a "final" decision on whether or not to strike a peace deal with Iran.

"I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination," Trump said in a lengthy social media post, stressing that Iran must agree never to have nuclear weapons and to open the Hormuz shipping lanes.

In the post, Trump said that Iran "will complete the immediate removal" of mines in the strait and that the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports "will now be lifted," allowing oil and other tankers to start moving.

However, it was not clear if Iran had agreed to this or whether the U.S. blockade had actually been lifted ahead of Trump making his decision.

Trump also specified that enriched uranium stockpiles in Iran "will be unearthed by the United States... in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED."

Following reports that Iran has demanded financial compensation for the war and that the White House has floated the idea of investments, Trump said, "no money will be exchanged, until further notice."

The U.S. president added that only "items, of far less importance, have been agreed to."

AFP