Iran declared on Monday that it maintains full control over the Strait of Hormuz and has no intention of resuming peace negotiations with the United States, following President Donald Trump’s decision to halt a two-week bombing campaign that military leadership stated had concluded.
The weekend suspension of airstrikes by Trump followed 13 consecutive nights of heavy bombardment that led Tehran to retaliate against U.S. bases. In response, Iran indicated it would hold off on further strikes provided the United States maintains its pause in bombing.
According to a U.S. official and widespread media reports, Trump decided to halt the operation after top military leaders advised him that the airstrikes—intended to loosen Iran’s control over the strait—had accomplished as much as they could.
Reuters reported that military officials informed the president that viable targets were running low. Additionally, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine expressed concern over the shrinking supply of air defense munitions needed to protect American installations across the region.
Recall that over the weekend, major news outlets—including The New York Times, CNN, and Axios—reported that President Trump was advised by both civilian and military officials to halt the operation.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated on Sunday that President Trump paused the military campaign to open the door for negotiations.
However, during a televised press briefing on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that Tehran has not asked to restart peace talks with Washington.
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Iran State Media Say Six Ships Turned Back In Strait of Hormuz
Iranian state television reported that Iran turned back six “offending ships” attempting to cross the strait without permission, citing a “informed source” on Monday morning. According to the source, “an accident” occurred on one of the vessels.
Trump launched the recent bombing campaign to penalize Iran after Tehran targeted vessels traveling along a U.S.-preferred route through the strait, where Washington has directed ships to sail close to the Omani coastline.
Iran contends that vessels must use a channel closer to its own shoreline, which it maintains control over and intends to collect transit fees for.
U.S. airstrikes over a two-week period killed scores of people in Iran and destroyed bridges, tunnels, and military facilities in the country’s south. In response, Iran launched strikes on U.S. military bases in neighboring Arab countries, killing four American service members. Reports also said Iran targeted civilian sites in Gulf states after the U.S. struck civilian infrastructure in Iran.
Last week, Iran-backed Houthi allies threatened to expand maritime disruptions to a second major passage by imposing a blockade on Saudi Arabia’s oil sector in the Red Sea, causing oil prices to spike higher.
Backstory…
In June, Washington and Tehran reached an agreement on a framework to conduct negotiations by late August to address major issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
However, both nations disagree over the interpretation of the memorandum’s terms concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Washington insists Tehran must permit unrestricted access, while Iran argues the text grants it authority over transit.
Iran aims to assert sovereignty over the waterway through a deal with Oman, which borders the opposite side. A senior delegation from Oman visited Tehran over the weekend to deliberate on the future management of the strait.
Foreign ministers from Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia held phone conversations on Monday with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi to confer on the situation in the strait, according to official media reports.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who launched the conflict alongside Trump in February but has remained outside the U.S.-Iran peace talks—is set to meet with Trump in Washington this week.
