U.S.-Iran War Talks Stall as Strait of Hormuz Flare-Ups Continue
CNBC reported Saturday that a fragile quiet had returned to the Strait of Hormuz. That calm followed the worst outbreak of fighting since a ceasefire took hold a month ago. Washington is still waiting for Tehran to respond to its latest proposal to formally end more than two months of hostilities.
Diplomacy Stalls as Tehran Goes Silent
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that a response from Iran was expected within hours. A full day later, no signal had emerged from Tehran. The U.S. proposal would end the conflict outright before deeper negotiations on harder issues, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions, could begin. The silence is fueling uncertainty among allies and energy markets alike.
Adding a confidence-building dimension, a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker was navigating toward the strait Saturday, bound for Pakistan. Sources told CNBC that Iran approved the passage to signal goodwill toward Qatar and Pakistan, a key mediator. If completed, it would be the first Qatari LNG transit through the waterway since fighting began in late February.
Background: A War That Shut Down the World’s Oil Artery
The conflict started with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Tehran responded by effectively blockading non-Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the planet’s oil supply moved through that narrow passage daily. The economic damage has been severe and mounting.
A ceasefire was announced on April 7, but violations have multiplied. The U.S. military last month imposed a blockade on Iranian vessels. A CIA assessment, first reported by the Washington Post, suggested Iran could withstand that economic pressure for roughly another four months, complicating the administration’s negotiating leverage.
Gulf States Draw Fire as Trump Prepares China Trip
The UAE bore the brunt of renewed Iranian aggression Friday. Abu Dhabi’s air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones, leaving three people with moderate injuries. Iran has repeatedly struck Gulf states hosting U.S. military installations.
The attacks followed President Donald Trump‘s brief announcement of “Project Freedom,” a plan to escort commercial vessels through the strait that he paused after just 48 hours. Trump insisted Thursday the ceasefire remained intact despite the clashes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi pushed back sharply, accusing Washington of choosing military escalation over diplomacy each time a deal appeared within reach.
With Trump heading to China next week to meet President Xi Jinping, pressure to resolve the conflict is intensifying. Britain said Saturday it would deploy a warship to the Middle East in preparation for a potential multinational safe-transit mission. Germany and other European partners said they were working to narrow differences with Washington over how to reopen the waterway.
