TEHRAN: In a major setback to regional stability, Iran has fully closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing several oil tankers to turn back, according to state-run Press TV. Adding to the friction, US Vice President JD Vance clarified that while Tehran’s negotiators assumed the ceasefire included Lebanon, Washington had made no such agreement. This discrepancy has created a diplomatic deadlock even before the formal talks begin.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker voiced concerns on Wednesday, claiming that key clauses of their proposed negotiation framework have already been violated. This has cast a dark shadow over the bilateral talks scheduled for Saturday in Pakistan. Meanwhile, US Air Force General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized that the current ceasefire is merely a “temporary halt,” stating that US forces are on high alert and ready to resume operations at a moment’s notice.
Shadowing the diplomatic efforts, a drone attack reportedly struck Saudi Arabia’s crucial East-West oil pipeline on Wednesday, damaging a primary export route. Despite these incidents, there remains a slim hope for de-escalation; a senior Iranian official indicated that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen as early as Thursday or Friday if a solid ceasefire framework is established. In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump suggested that the US would work with a post-regime-change Iran, signaling potential sanctions relief while strictly ruling out uranium enrichment.
With input from Iran International.
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