Trump claims Iran told US it is in "State of Collapse", wants Strait of Hormuz reopened

President Trump claimed on Truth Social on April 28, 2026 that Iran informed his administration it was in a state of collapse and wanted the Strait of Hormuz reopened as soon as possible, though he did not specify who conveyed this message. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi immediately contradicted Trump's characterization, blaming stalled negotiations on Washington's destructive habits, while Iran passed a proposal through Pakistani mediators to reopen the strait in exchange for lifting the U.S. naval blockade. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Iran's proposal better than expected but insufficient on nuclear issues, and the White House confirmed no decisions had been made. The Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively closed for nine weeks since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, disrupting the waterway that previously carried 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG daily and driving oil prices up roughly 55% with Brent crude above $111 per barrel.

Trump's claims about Iran's state of collapse

• ▪President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran wanted the United States to open the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible
• ▪President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, that Iran had informed his administration that Iran was in a state of collapse

Conflicting diplomatic signals and Iran's proposal

• ▪Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Iran's proposal better than what the United States thought Iran was going to submit
• ▪White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday, April 27, 2026 that President Donald Trump met with his national security team to discuss Iran's proposal
• ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrapped up a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Monday, April 27, 2026

Impact on oil markets and global energy supply

• ▪Oil prices are up roughly 55% since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026
• ▪Oil prices ticked lower on President Donald Trump's Truth Social post, with Brent crude slipping from session highs above $111 a barrel before steadying
• ▪Goldman Sachs puts Q4 2026 Brent crude oil at $90 per barrel in its base case scenario
• ▪A near-total blockade of normal shipping traffic exists in the Strait of Hormuz as of April 28, 2026
• ▪Oil prices had surged more than 3% on Tuesday, April 28, 2026
• ▪Before the war, roughly 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG transited the Strait of Hormuz daily
• ▪The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed nine weeks into the conflict as of April 28, 2026
• ▪Citi analysts have warned oil prices could reach $150 per barrel if flows through the Strait of Hormuz stay disrupted through June 2026

Perspective of Donald Trump

• ▪President Donald Trump characterized Iran as being in a state of collapse in his April 28, 2026 Truth Social post

Perspective of Iranian government officials

• ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi contradicted President Donald Trump's claims about Iran's state of collapse

Perspective of Oil market analysts

• ▪Oil market traders reacted to President Donald Trump's April 28, 2026 Truth Social post by pushing Brent crude prices lower from session highs above $111 per barrel
• ▪Citi analysts warn oil prices could hit $150 per barrel if Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue through June 2026