Trump sees progress on deal with Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz

President Trump says the U.S. and Iran are having “very good discussions,” raising hopes for a deal on Wednesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr. Trump said mediators made progress Tuesday, even if Tehran is coy about its willingness to cooperate.

“We’re having very good discussions. They don’t like to admit that,” Mr. Trump told the “FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher” program late Tuesday.

Middle East partners asked Mr. Trump to hold off on strikes against Iran over the weekend, saying it was important to give diplomacy one more chance.

Early reports suggest Iran and Oman are narrowing in on a plan that would require ships to enter the Persian Gulf through an Iran-controlled strait and exit through an Oman-controlled route.

Mediators are trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, an oil chokepoint, to normal maritime traffic to stabilize energy supplies and markets. Reopening the strait would set the table for deeper talks on Iran’s nuclear program and ending the war.

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“The strait’s going to be open very soon, or [Iran is] going to get hit very hard & mdash; and then the strait’s going to be open,” Mr. Trump said.

Mr. Trump ordered strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, unsettling global markets and proving that Tehran maintained some leverage against American might.

The countries have gone through cycles of violence and diplomacy for weeks.

The stock market surged Tuesday upon word of a possible deal to reopen the strait.

Mr. Trump says this is Iran’s last chance to make a lasting deal. “If they back out again, they’re going to get hit really hard,” Mr. Trump said. “They know that, they understand that.”

“If they don’t make a deal,” he said, “it’s gonna be too bad.”