Strait of Hormuz: Iran sets terms, Trump threatens strike
Iran says it is studying reopening the Strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington accepts its conditions, while Trump raises the prospect of a harsh military strike, amid Qatari- and Pakistani-mediated talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz are "clear," stressing that accepting them would lead to the strait's reopening and a resumption of dialogue with Washington. Iran's Foreign Ministry said it is studying a plan to reopen the strait within just two days if the United States accepts Tehran's demands, after previously proposing a full week-long deadline. For his part, US President Donald Trump said his country might ultimately have to "finish the matter militarily" through a harsh strike, while affirming that Washington does not necessarily need regime change in Tehran to stop it from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Intensive talks through Qatari and Pakistani mediators
According to Araghchi, intensive consultations are underway between Tehran and Washington through Qatari and Pakistani mediation, with no final outcome yet, as the result depends on "the other side's response." The Iranian minister described his country as "more ready than ever," for either a military response or the diplomatic track. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said war "serves no one" and that Tehran is seeking a solution through dialogue, adding that the Supreme Leader has granted the government certain powers on this file.
These developments come 247 days after the war between the two countries broke out, and 138 days after the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps had closed the strait last July, with Tehran refusing to return to the pre-war situation that allowed passage without fees or Iranian inspection.
Trump: "I haven't delivered a knockout blow yet because Iran wants to negotiate"
Trump said, in remarks to Fox News, that he has not yet delivered a "knockout" blow because Tehran wants to negotiate, while hinting that Washington might later have to deliver a harsh strike. He added that Iran "is going through a severe crisis" and can no longer pay its military's salaries, while affirming he does not want the confrontation to turn into a long war "like Vietnam." Israel's Channel 12 reported that Trump had a "direct and sharp" conversation on Saturday with outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Iran file, and that Netanyahu is pressing him to resume the war after the US midterm elections. Israel Hayom also quoted a senior official as saying the White House is nearing a decision on a possible strike against Iran.
New incident hits an oil tanker near the strait
In a sign of continuing tension on the ground, Iran's navy said an oil tanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz. The incident is the latest in a series targeting shipping in the vital waterway, after four oil tankers caught fire near the strait last week, as Trump considers additional military options.