Negotiations with Iran show signs of movement amid maritime tensions
Trump later told reporters at the White House that negotiations with Tehran were “going on right now,” reports BritPanorama.
“It’s an amazing thing we have a little problem with Iran because we have many talks, and we’ll say we have or we don’t have. You know, we’re straight about it, but they deny it,” Trump said. “But they’re not denying it now. They just put out a statement not denying it.”
On the Strait, he stated the parties were discussing “having it open literally by tomorrow, completely open, and that’s phase one,” adding that the second phase of talks would focus on Iran’s nuclear program.
The president had previously called off intense new strikes on Iran, creating space for what he said would be fresh negotiations.
In a troubling development, a cargo vessel reported being struck by an “unknown projectile” off the coast of Oman Monday night, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Maritime sources informed that the vessel hit near Hormuz was a dry bulk ship, leading its crew to abandon the vessel, with one seafarer reported missing.
Historically, around 100 ships transit the Strait daily during peacetime; however, an analysis by NBC News indicated that only six vessels passed through on Monday. Most of these, such as the Chinese-owned tanker Starway and the Indian-managed Horizon 1, continued along the Iranian route, sailing south of Larak Island.
As no safe route has been agreed upon between Iran and Oman, some vessels are navigating close to the Omani coast with their transponders turned off to avoid detection. The ship hit on Monday was among these, underscoring the ongoing risks faced by those traversing the Strait.
