Maritime traffic around the Strait of Hormuz remained approximately 90% below prewar levels, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was not yet ready to reach a deal with Washington.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One to attend a rally in South Carolina, Trump said he believed Iran wanted a deal but was not yet ready for one.
Washington will maintain economic pressure
The U.S. president rejected the view that tightening economic sanctions had narrowed Washington’s military options. Trump said the United States would monitor the impact of these measures on Iran’s economy, which has been under the pressure of a war with the United States for approximately six months.
Trump also claimed that Iran had no money, navy or air force, was not paying its soldiers and police, and had inflation of 350 percent. These remarks reflected Trump’s assessment of Iran’s economic and military capacity.
Commercial traffic in Hormuz remains below prewar levels
Trump claimed that the United States had full control of the area encompassing the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding land territory in southern Iran.
However, commercial vessels’ passage through the area’s waters remained far below prewar levels because of security risks and attacks targeting ships. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported on Friday that traffic in the strait had fallen by approximately 90% compared with prewar levels.
June agreement collapsed after disputes
Washington and Tehran signed an agreement in June calling for an end to the clashes and the resumption of maritime transport through the Strait of Hormuz.
The agreement could not be implemented after disputes over the conditions for its implementation and the future of navigation along the waterway, and it later collapsed.
The conflict began in late February with a surprise attack by the United States and Israel against Iran. Tehran responded by carrying out attacks on targets in Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.
Maria Nica / Editor
