The Islamic Republic announced on Wednesday that it has received the official U.S. response to Iran's proposal for a 7-day ceasefire and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz through Qatari mediators. Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government spokesperson, stated that Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister, presented Washington's response to Masoud Pezeshkian during a cabinet meeting. She did not disclose details of the content of the U.S. response, only noting that diplomatic efforts "are continuing with seriousness."
Existing Disputes Between Tehran and Washington
The main disagreement between the two sides is over the "first step" in implementing the proposals. Tehran has linked the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to the fulfillment of a set of conditions by the U.S. These conditions include reducing military and economic pressures, releasing frozen or restricted Iranian assets, and agreeing on a safe shipping route. These conditions were conveyed to Washington through Qatar last week. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has rejected Iran's initial proposal, but Qatari mediation is still ongoing.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz
Alongside these developments, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue. The UK Maritime Trade Operations organization has reported that three vessels, including an oil tanker carrying crude oil and a tanker carrying liquefied natural gas, were targeted on Tuesday by "unknown projectiles." No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. Hossein Mohibi, a spokesperson for the IRGC, claimed that the daily traffic of ships in the Strait of Hormuz has decreased from about 125 vessels under normal conditions to only 7 to 8 ships, and military confrontations occur almost every night in this area. U.S. forces stationed in the region have not yet responded to these claims.
Thus, as diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington continue, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the main leverage points and areas of disagreement between the two sides. These developments could have wide-ranging implications for shipping security in this sensitive region and escalate tensions in the relations between the two countries.
Read more: Larijani: We Must Preserve the Strait of Hormuz with Strength · Return of Oil Flow from the Middle East to Pre-War Levels Despite Ongoing Risks
