Full story
Talks pause, threats persist
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there was "a good chance that something could happen" in negotiations with Iran as both sides observed a third consecutive day without fighting.
“US President Donald Trump says Washington is engaged in “very friendly negotiations” with Iran after pausing military strikes last week, raising hopes that weeks of escalating attacks could give way to renewed diplomacy”
The pause followed 13 nights of renewed US strikes on Iran, triggered by a breakdown in diplomacy over Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, after the conflict began in late February with US-Israeli strikes.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denied any direct negotiations, saying, "At present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States" while acknowledging that mediators may convey messages from the American side.
Trump insisted during a speech in Michigan that if diplomacy fails, "we go back to doing what we were doing," and he dismissed concerns about dwindling US ammunition stockpiles.
Despite the lull, Saudi Arabia came under attack on Monday as its defense ministry intercepted several drones fired by Iran-linked groups in Iraq targeting oil facilities, and Riyadh called on Baghdad to prevent such attacks.
Netanyahu meeting looms
Trump told the "Fox and Friends" programme that he wanted to avoid targeting Iran's bridges and power plants if possible, saying, "It's a very, very delicate balance."
In the same interview, Trump reiterated his threats to target Pickaxe Mountain as well as bridges and power plants if a deal is not made with Tehran, telling viewers, "We cannot have them break deals anymore."
Ahead of his meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said Monday that Washington and Israel remain closely aligned on Iran, adding, "We’re pretty close when it comes to Iran."
Trump said the talks were continuing and expressed optimism, telling reporters, "We’re talking with Iran right now," and he added, "There’s a good chance something will happen."
The immediate diplomatic effort, according to the reporting, is focused on an interim arrangement intended to restore safe commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with Oman leading mediation and Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan also playing roles.
Hormuz, leverage, and escalation
As the pause in fighting continued, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards turned back six vessels trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz through routes not approved by Iranian authorities, with state television saying, "Last night, six vessels that attempted to transit through a route other than the designated one were stopped".
“Trump threatens to destroy Mount al-Faas in Iran if no agreement is reached”
Iran’s joint military command also announced that no company or state that receives frozen Iranian assets as compensation for its damaged ships will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the BBC report.
Trump framed the diplomatic window as conditional leverage, telling Fox News, "We have a very strong position right now," and warning that he would do what he said if Iran did not reach an agreement.
He also said he would return to military action if negotiations failed, adding, "If they don't reach an agreement, we'll destroy it very easily," while emphasizing that he seeks to avoid striking bridges and Iranian power plants as much as possible.
In parallel, the reporting described Iran’s regional diplomacy around the Strait of Hormuz, including talks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi with Saudi Arabia and Oman on maritime security and ship-passage mechanisms, while Trump said Washington is conducting "very cordial negotiations" with Iran.
