Trump Says Talks Progressing Smoothly... Iran Acting Cunningly

by Hwang Yoonju

Published 18 Apr.2026 23:58(KST)

"Iran is acting a bit cunning, but they cannot intimidate us"

U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on the 18th (local time) that despite Iran's renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, ceasefire negotiations with Iran are proceeding well.

At an executive order signing ceremony held at the White House that day, President Trump said, "They wanted to close the Strait again," and added, "They have done this for a long time, but they cannot intimidate us."

He further stated, "They are being a bit cunning, just as they have been for the past 47 years," and emphasized, "No one else has confronted them, but we have." He continued, "They have no navy, no air force, no leadership. They have nothing," stressing, "This is regime change, and I would call it a forced regime change."

Nevertheless, President Trump said that ceasefire negotiations with Iran are "going quite well and are actually progressing smoothly," and remarked, "We will see, but we will receive some information today."

President Trump's mention of "some information" is interpreted as suggesting that there could be significant progress in negotiations with Iran within the day.

President Trump also pointed out that numerous U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iranian bomb attacks, stating, "We have a completely different perspective from other presidents," and added, "They have gotten away with murder for 47 years, but that will no longer be the case."