Agencies | Tehran:
Iran has indicated that security in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz could be restored and negotiations with the United States initiated within a short period if Washington accepts Tehran’s demands, as diplomatic efforts continue amid escalating military tensions in the Gulf.
Iranian officials said an understanding on the conditions put forward by Tehran could help restore maritime security and create an opening for negotiations, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressing hope that Washington would choose diplomacy over further confrontation.
Araghchi said talks with regional mediators on a proposed two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were continuing. He also urged the United States to demonstrate restraint and pursue a diplomatic solution.
The diplomatic signals, however, have been accompanied by increasingly forceful rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who said the war with Iran would end “very soon one way or the other”.
Warning Tehran against prolonging the confrontation, Trump said Iran would either reach an agreement or face further military action, declaring that “the hammer” would come down if a deal was not reached.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two crude oil tankers caught fire after striking sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, adding to concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region.
The reported incidents came as Gulf countries condemned Friday’s attack on a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, which was reportedly struck by unidentified objects.
The developments have heightened concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes, through which substantial volumes of global oil and gas supplies pass.
Araghchi reiterated that negotiations through mediators remained underway and expressed hope that the United States would recognise the need for a diplomatic settlement.
Iran’s proposal to restore security and reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days, subject to US cooperation, has emerged as a key element of the latest diplomatic efforts.
With Washington demanding an agreement and Tehran insisting on its conditions, the coming days could prove significant for the future of negotiations and maritime security in the Gulf. However, continued military threats and reports of attacks on commercial vessels underline the uncertainty surrounding efforts to prevent further escalation.
