Trump says Strait of Hormuz fully open, insists Iran will not get nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and that Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons, asserting that more oil is now transiting the waterway than before. Trump credited Iran with strong cooperation on shipping through the strait and said talks aimed at reaching a fair and reasonable deal with Tehran have made good progress. The president said any released frozen Iranian funds would be restricted to purchasing food products from American farmers. He added that Iran's oil revenues should be spent on food for its people rather than rebuilding its military, and warned that the United States would act if Iran misbehaved. Trump also said he was working to resolve outstanding issues, including matters related to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that U.S. policy on Iran would not cause a global economic downturn. Iran's Foreign Ministry separately said the nuclear program was not discussed during the talks in Switzerland and that no new commitments were accepted. Tehran said its relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency will depend on approval by the Iranian parliament. The first round of high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded in the Swiss town of Bürgenstock, mediated jointly by Qatar and Pakistan.