Trump Threatens Iran on Truth Social, Warns 'Get Smart Soon!' Over Blockaded Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran in a Truth Social post on Wednesday morning, saying the country "better get smart soon!" "Iran can't get their act together. They don't know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!," Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social shortly after 4 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The post was accompanied by an AI-generated picture of Trump holding a gun with explosions in the background, and the words "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!" The post comes as the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded and as the status of talks with Iran remains uncertain, with attempts to continue negotiations in the last few days seemingly stalled. U.S. negotiators were due to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan for more talks last weekend, but Trump canceled the trip. "We have all the cards," the president told Fox News, adding that if Iran wanted to talk, "they can come to us, or they can call us." Previous negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance also ended without a deal. Tehran has proposed that it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports and the war ends, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday. The proposal would postpone negotiations on Tehran's nuclear ambitions for a later date, Axios and The Associated Press reported earlier on Monday. Reuters reported earlier Tuesday that Trump was not happy with Tehran's proposal, however, and the White House was expected to return with a counteroffer. West Texas Intermediate futures continued to rise after Trump's post to trade 2.82% higher at $102.75 after the post, while benchmark Brent futures were up 3% to settle at $114.62. Oil prices were already elevated after the United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it would be leaving the oil-producing group OPEC on May 1, complicating the global supply outlook.