US President Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday that his administration will not currently hold any negotiations or talks with Iran.
Trump said, in a post on his account on the “Truth Social” platform: “There are no ongoing or scheduled talks or negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
He stressed that the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports will remain in full force and effect.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said that it is “open and operating normally, and all sea mines have been removed or detonated,” as he put it.
His position came after the Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council, Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf, announced earlier today that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened unless the United States implements its obligations contained in the temporary memorandum of understanding, including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen Iranian funds, lifting oil sanctions, ending military threats and operations on all fronts, and all other conditions pledged by Washington.
On the other hand, Qatar, which played and continues to play the role of mediator in the talks between the United States and Iran, considered that reaching an agreement between Tehran and Muscat regarding Hormuz would “facilitate” the resumption of negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Since the outbreak of the war, Iranian threats to ships have paralyzed navigation in the strait, while Tehran has required ships wishing to cross it to obtain prior permission, and has sought to impose a “services allowance,” which Washington and other parties in the region have rejected.
In contrast, the United States imposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports, preventing ships from entering or leaving them, in light of the deployment of American aircraft carriers in the region.
