U.S.-Iran War Talks Stall as Strait of Hormuz Clashes Test Ceasefire

CNBC reported Saturday that Iran has not replied to Washington’s latest peace proposal, leaving two months of conflict unresolved as fresh skirmishes rattle the Strait of Hormuz and pressure builds ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China.

Diplomacy Stalls, Silence From Tehran

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday he expected an Iranian response within hours. A full day later, none had arrived. The U.S. proposal aims to formally end the war before talks on harder issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, begin. Qatari and Pakistani mediators remain active, and a Qatari LNG tanker was tracked heading toward the strait Saturday, reportedly with Iranian approval. If the vessel completes its passage, it would be the first Qatari LNG ship through the waterway since fighting began.

Background: A Conflict That Rocked Global Energy

The war started after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes hit Iran on February 28. Iran responded by blocking non-Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that previously carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. A ceasefire was announced April 7, but it has frayed badly in recent days, with fighting reaching its worst point since that truce took hold.

Also Read: Oil Markets Brace for Prolonged Hormuz Disruption

Clashes Spread Beyond the Waterway

Friday saw Iranian forces and U.S. naval vessels exchange fire in the strait, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. The U.S. military said it destroyed two Iran-linked vessels attempting to reach an Iranian port, striking their smokestacks with a fighter jet and forcing them to withdraw. The UAE reported separate Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, injuring three people. Iran has repeatedly targeted Gulf states hosting American military bases. Tehran escalated those strikes after Trump announced “Project Freedom,” a ship-escort initiative he paused after just 48 hours.

Also Read: UAE Intercepts Iranian Missiles as Gulf Tensions Flare

Sanctions Tighten, Allies Remain Reluctant

A CIA assessment, first cited by the Washington Post, reportedly found that U.S. port blockades would not severely squeeze Iran economically for roughly another four months. A senior intelligence official disputed the characterization. Washington also moved to tighten sanctions further. Rubio, speaking after meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, openly questioned why European allies were not supporting U.S. efforts to reopen the waterway. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe shared Washington’s goal of preventing Iranian nuclear weapons but was working to narrow differences on approach. Britain confirmed it would deploy a warship to the region to prepare for a potential multinational escort mission.

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