# Iran says Trump's threats show desperation

> Tehran offers to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade and ends economic pressure.
- Title: Iran says Trump's threats show desperation · CNBC | Shortify
- Summary: Tehran offers to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade and ends economic pressure. Iran's military dismissed Trump's…
- Keywords: iran, donald trump, strait of hormuz, u.s.-iran conflict, naval blockade, oil prices, diplomacy, business, finance, Trump's, threats, show
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/23/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz.html
- Author: Sam Meredith,Anniek Bao
- Published: 2026-09-23T05:37:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: iran, donald trump, strait of hormuz, u.s.-iran conflict, naval blockade, oil prices, diplomacy, business, finance
## Trump threatens annihilation
At the United Nations on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. faces a choice between a deal with Iran or swift military action. He asked: will a deal be made or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic?

> Will a deal be made with Iran? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly?
## Iran calls threats strategic desperation
Iran's military responded on Wednesday through the Mehr news agency, describing Trump's threats as a sign of U.S. strategic desperation and military exhaustion, not strength.

> Such words demonstrate America's strategic dead end in its aggression against the Iranian nation.
## Iran warns of crushing strikes
Iran's General Staff said the country stands ready to inflict strikes more crushing than those earlier in the nearly seven-month conflict, warning it is prepared for further escalation.
## Trump expects deal after midterms
Trump told reporters the U.S. held a very good three-hour meeting with Iranian envoys at the United Nations. He said he expects an agreement after November's midterm elections.

> I believe we'll make a deal right after the election, because it doesn't make sense for them not to.
## Iran sets conditions for peace
Through Qatari mediators, Iran communicated conditions for ending the war: a halt to U.S. acts of aggression, an end to naval blockade and economic warfare, and release of Iranian assets.
## Hormuz reopening within a week
A senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. eases military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, restoring global oil shipments.
## Shipping remains far below normal
Confirmed transits through Hormuz averaged six point nine eight million barrels a day in the seven days to September twentieth, about thirty-eight percent of the eighteen point three million barrel prewar baseline.
## Key takeaway

Iran's military dismissed Trump's threats to annihilate Tehran as strategic desperation, while offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. lifts its blockade.