US President Donald Trump continued his threats against Iran, declaring that if the strategic Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, they will strike a 'very powerful blow' against the Tehran administration. Trump made this warning in an interview with Fox News.
"We are conducting very good talks... They (the Iranians) want to reach an agreement. We will see what happens," Trump said, "The strait will open very soon, otherwise they will receive a very powerful blow and then the strait will open."
The US President also announced last Sunday that he had canceled a planned attack after Iran and other countries in the region requested time for the strait to be immediately and completely opened.
Mediation efforts in final stage
It has been reported that indirect US-Iran negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar have reached the final stage. According to a report by Anadolu Agency based on Pakistani government sources, the mediators have prepared a document that would pave the way for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and agreement on the final text is near.
Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majid al-Ansari also said in a statement on Tuesday evening that the mediation efforts have reached 'advanced stages' and that draft texts have been exchanged between the parties.
Iran makes progress in technical talks with Oman
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced on Tuesday evening that progress has been made in the technical and political talks with the Sultanate of Oman. Baghaei said the talks aim to determine safe corridors for ships passing through the strait. Iran and Oman share legal and geographical sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and the navigation routes.
Background of the tensions
The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, and according to the Tehran administration, more than 3,000 people were killed in these attacks. Iran, in turn, announced that it had inflicted losses on the US and Israel in retaliatory attacks.
Final agreement negotiations began with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries on June 18, but the process stalled due to disagreements over freedom of navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz.
