President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the United States currently has no planned discussions with Iran, and there are no scheduled talks. Iran’s chief negotiator mentioned that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the U.S. fulfills the terms of an interim agreement signed in June.
The memorandum of understanding from June included a cessation of all military activities and set a 60-day timeframe to reach a permanent resolution to end the conflict and settle the longstanding disagreement regarding Iran’s nuclear operations, which expired on Monday.
On Tuesday, Trump claimed on Truth Social that the strait was functioning normally, with all Iranian mines in the area either deactivated or removed. However, commercial activities in the Hormuz region have significantly decreased compared to before the U.S. and Israel initiated strikes on Iran to commence the conflict on February 28.
In a previous post, Trump shared an image depicting the Strait of Hormuz as “New U.S. Territory.” With the resumption of hostilities, the U.S. reimposed a naval blockade initially enforced in April, restricting all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports by mid-July.
Iran’s parliamentary Speaker and former negotiator in talks with the U.S., Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, reiterated on Tuesday that Tehran intends to control shipping traffic until the U.S. fulfills its obligations under the agreement, including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, lifting oil sanctions, ceasing threats and military activities, and implementing other commitments.
The June memorandum aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Iran a vague role in facilitating traffic, potentially enabling them to levy fees after the 60-day deadline. Iran has interpreted this clause as granting them authority over the waterway, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies flowed before the conflict.
Both sides accused each other of violating the terms of the June accord within weeks. Iran fired on vessels near the coast of Oman, while the U.S. conducted strikes within Iran. In response, Tehran targeted Arab nations hosting U.S. forces with drone attacks. The U.S. revoked waivers permitting Iran to export oil as part of the deal and reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports.
Trump dismissed Iran’s demands, insisting that Tehran should pay reparations for the conflict and asserting U.S. control over the strait, aiming to pressure Iran economically through the blockade and existing sanctions.
A ship was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center. Although the responsible party was not immediately identified, the incident underscores the risks of navigating the strait as Iran restricts shipping traffic while finalizing negotiations with Oman on managing the critical passage for global oil and gas supplies.
With U.S.-Iran talks at a standstill, Iran has engaged in separate discussions with Oman to coordinate ship movements through the strait, indicating that a joint statement is near finalization.
Trump reacted vehemently, threatening to bomb Oman if it interferes. This was the second instance during the conflict where he issued such a threat to the country, a traditional ally of the U.S. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly criticized Trump’s approach, stating it seems counterproductive to make additional enemies.
Following a meeting between Egyptian and Omani foreign ministers, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry suggested that the Iranian-Omani agreement could pave the way for renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran for a comprehensive and enduring deal that addresses all concerns and enhances regional stability.
Data from Kpler tracking indicated that six commodity ships transited the strait on Monday, with three exiting and three entering the Gulf, compared to an average of 11 ships daily. Before the conflict in February, approximately 125 vessels crossed the strait daily.
At the chokepoint of Bab el-Mandeb on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula, Kpler data revealed that 19 commodity vessels passed through on Monday, lower than the 10-day average of 26 and the previous day’s 33 crossings, slightly below the typical figures from January to June.