U.S, Iran talks in question as ceasefire set to expire. A new round of talks between the United States and Iran are tentatively being set before the ceasefire is set to expire as more conflict arises concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. military attacked and seized an Iranian cargo vessel it reported to have avoid the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, with Iran vowing to respond since there are American threats to Iranian ships and ports that were clear signs of Washington’s lack of sincerity ahead of talks.
President Trump again fired threats at Iran, with the ceasefire set to end Wednesday, to knock out every single power plant and bridge in Iran if the there is no deal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media X, saying his country still has 'deep historical miswas trust' toward the U.S. government, adding that the U.S. naval blockade and the seizure of an Iranian ship were a 'clear contradiction between word and action,' he said, which amplifies Iran's distrust in U.S. intentions.
'Iranians do not submit to force,' Pezeshkian wrote on X, adding that 'honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz to be maintained as Beijing expressed concerns over the “forced interception” by the U.S. of the Iranian ship yesterday. Xi said that the normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community, Xinhua reported.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance and other U.S. negotiators appeared set to travel to Pakistan for a new round of peace talks, though no concrete decision has been made by Iran.
Five passenger ships went through the Strait of Hormuz during its temporary opening, according to MarineTraffic data, after the shipping traffic site said the vessels had been stranded since late February. Around 30 vessels went through the waterway from Friday to Saturday during the temporary opening The Malta-flagged cruise ship Celestyal Discovery crossed the strait shortly after Iran announced the complete opening of the crucial oil choke point on Friday.
Four other cruise ships also cleared from the waterway on Saturday before Iran announced its closure again. Another passenger ship, Aroya, also managed to leave the Persian Gulf through the strait on Sunday, a day after Iran reimposed strict control.
The price of crude oil rose again after the U.S. seizure of an Iranian ship in the Strait of Hormuz cast doubts on possible peace talks.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 5% to more than $95 per barrel, reversing recent Friday declines seen on Friday, while U.S. crude rose 6% to almost $89 per barrel.
The Strait carries a fifth of the world's oil supply as well as a large amount of liquid natural gas and fertilizer.