Hyderabad, June 3 -- United States President Donald Trump has predicted the Strait of Hormuz could remain closed until September or even longer. In an interview with the New York Post, he said that oil prices nearing USD 98 a barrel were "not a big price to pay" if it prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"It is a worst-case scenario, but I hope the issue is resolved much sooner. Talks with Iran were progressing and evolving rapidly," he said.

President Trump also expressed his desire to meet Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in person, adding that the two sides were "getting along quite well" despite difficulties in the ongoing negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a full-scale mili...