Iran’s chief negotiator said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be reopened after the U.S. and Israeli sides blatantly violated their ceasefire agreement.
According to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports and the Israeli army’s military operations in Lebanon constituted breaches of the agreement, he wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country remains open to talks, but that “violations of commitments, blockades and threats are preventing that.”
Although Pakistani mediators are actively working, there is currently no sign that a new round of talks between the U.S. and Iran will begin any time soon.
On Tuesday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he was extending the ceasefire agreement indefinitely. The previous deadline was due to expire on Wednesday.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that there are no limits on the extended period.
Trump is reportedly pleased with the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports and has decided to wait until Tehran’s authorities are exhausted and run out of patience.
“The cards are now in President Trump’s hands,” Leavitt said in explaining the situation.
On Wednesday morning, Iran said it had detained two cargo ships for inspection after they entered the Strait of Hormuz without permission.
Earlier, reports had said that Iran attacked three cargo vessels transiting the strait.
One of them, the UAE-owned vessel Euphoria, was attacked about 15 km west of the Iranian coast, a source said.
However, the ship was not damaged and there were no casualties. It is now anchored at a port in the United Arab Emirates, according to the report.
Iran has not commented on the Euphoria, while it said it had seized the other two damaged vessels, MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, following the attacks.
They were accused of attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz secretly without authorization.
Iran also warned that it would take firm action against any such violation of the rules.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the commander of the country’s navy had resigned from his post.
No reason was given for John Phelan’s departure.
Just a few weeks ago, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth had asked Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Randy George to resign.
All this suggests there may be disagreements within Trump’s administration over the war with Iran among its top military officials.
Source: BBC
