However, there are no signs that the Trump administration is willing to make any concessions. The US president has repeatedly announced that the blockade will be lifted only after a comprehensive agreement with Iran is reached. The conflict in the region has been going on for a second month and is increasingly affecting global commodity markets.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Tehran's narrative in an interview with Fox News. As he emphasized, the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway.
— This is not an “opening” of the strait. Iran has no right to decide who can use it and under what conditions Rubio said.
The US administration has consistently repeated that its primary goal is to block Iran's nuclear program.
“Everything else is secondary to the risk of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon,” Donald Trump said after Saturday's attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
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A sudden change of plans in diplomacy
Last weekend there was a sudden change in American diplomatic strategy. Trump canceled the planned trip of Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff to talks with the Iranians in Pakistan.
— Too much time wasted traveling and we have a lot of work to do, wrote the president on Truth Social, adding that the United States “holds all the cards.”
The decision came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi left Islamabad after talks only with Pakistani officials, Reuters reported.
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After canceling the meeting, Trump said that Iran had provided a “much better” offer, but did not reveal the details. — Immediately after the meeting was canceled, we received a new document that was much better, said the president, as quoted by Bloomberg.
The cancellation of the visit eliminated the chances of quickly resuming the second round of negotiations. Two weeks earlier, Kushner, Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance held 21-hour talks in Islamabad that ended in failure. Under the current arrangement, Vance is no longer involved in the negotiations.
The oil market is still paralyzed
The Strait of Hormuz paralyzes the oil market
Although the truce unilaterally extended by Trump is formally in force, in reality the rivalry continues. Its main field remains the Strait of Hormuz – a key point for global energy supplies. Under normal conditions, approximately 20 percent is transported there. global oil supply.
Iran has almost completely stopped shipping. Only a fraction of pre-war traffic now flows through the strait, which has put heavy pressure on oil and fuel prices around the world – including in the US.
In response, Washington imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. Central Command said at least 38 units were detained or turned back.
The situation remains tense, and markets react to every signal from Tehran and Washington. Further decisions may be made today.
