Trump gives NATO a deadline for concrete commitments to protect the Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump and Iran are continuing to implement the two-week ceasefire agreed on Wednesday. Following the agreement, Trump announced that American military forces and equipment will remain in the Middle East region until a "real deal" is reached between the two sides. At the same time, he again threatened Iran, and his statements drew condemnation from the UN Secretary-General and Pope Leo XIV. hnonline.sk ↗

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, at a meeting with Trump at the White House, warned allies that the American president expects them to present concrete commitments within "a matter of days" to help secure transport through the Strait of Hormuz. A key element of the ceasefire is Tehran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in order to normalize shipping and trade traffic. According to Trump, Iran is considering a partnership with the US in collecting fees for passage through the strait, which the president said would ensure security and bring enormous profits to both sides. However, the situation surrounding this right remains unclear and unpredictable, particularly from the perspective of international law. Iran will require shipping companies to pay tolls in yuan or cryptocurrencies. hnonline.sk ↗

During the meeting, Rutte emphasized that the vast majority of the alliance's European members provided support to the United States during the war against Iran. Trump, however, continued to criticize NATO, claiming that the countries had not supported it sufficiently. Rutte described the meeting as "candid and open," but was clearly disappointed by Trump's stance. The meeting was held behind closed doors, and no photograph from it was released. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗

In connection with NATO's performance, Trump is considering measures against individual alliance members. The president's administration is weighing a plan to punish those countries that, according to Trump's interpretation, were not sufficiently helpful. Measures under consideration include relocating American military units or even closing American military bases. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt also indicated that Trump wants to discuss with Rutte the possibility of the US withdrawing from NATO, since, in her view, the alliance "did not pass the test" in the Iranian situation. denik.cz ↗

The head of Iran's nuclear energy organization ruled out limiting uranium enrichment, which represents a serious obstacle in negotiations. Actor George Clooney criticized Trump's threat to annihilate Iranian civilization and called it an act of war, which triggered a sharp exchange of views with the White House. French President Emmanuel Macron communicated with both presidents and emphasized that the ceasefire should also apply to Lebanon. Trump, however, maintains that Israeli attacks on Lebanon are a separate matter not included in the ceasefire with Iran. pravda.sk ↗

The situation remains fragile, and its long-term success depends on the continuation of the negoti novinky.cz ↗