Washington Demands Public Commitment From Tehran
The United States has given Iran until Saturday to publicly declare that the Strait of Hormuz is open and that attacks on commercial ships will stop immediately.
Senior U.S. officials said the demand was delivered to Tehran directly and through regional mediators. Washington wants Iran to clearly confirm that all shipping channels in the strait are open, safe and free from extra charges.
The Trump administration says Iran violated a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States three weeks ago. According to U.S. officials, the agreement required Iran to avoid attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest tensions follow several incidents in which commercial ships were reportedly fired upon near the vital waterway. The attacks triggered exchanges of fire and pushed the fragile understanding between Washington and Tehran close to collapse.
President Donald Trump earlier declared that the ceasefire with Iran was over. However, U.S. officials said Washington is still willing to continue diplomacy if Tehran publicly changes its position.
Iran Disputes U.S. Account as Oman Talks Begin
U.S. officials said Tehran privately indicated that the attacks were linked to hardline elements inside Iran and that Iranian officials still wanted talks to continue. Washington has described the incidents as a test of whether Iran can honor even basic security commitments.
Iran has publicly rejected parts of the U.S. version. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei denied that Tehran had requested direct negotiations with Washington. He said Iran only accepted a request from Qatari mediators to discuss the situation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat on Saturday. The meeting will focus on the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security and arrangements for normal shipping movement.
U.S. officials are watching the Oman meeting closely. They say Iran’s position after the talks will show whether Tehran is ready to accept responsibility and restore stability in the strait.
Hormuz Crisis Raises Energy and Nuclear Concerns
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes. A major disruption can affect oil supplies, shipping costs and global markets.
Commercial traffic through the strait has already declined since the latest attacks began. Shipping insurance costs have also remained under pressure due to security risks in the region.
Washington has linked the maritime dispute to wider negotiations with Iran. U.S. officials said if Iran cannot stop attacks on commercial vessels, it will be difficult to move forward on nuclear talks.
The Trump administration has not clearly stated what action it will take if Iran misses the Saturday deadline. Officials only warned that further consequences are possible.
The standoff now places the future of U.S.-Iran diplomacy under serious pressure. It also raises new concerns for Gulf security, international shipping and global energy markets.
