Iran lied about negotiations with US, Strait of Hormuz to open 'very soon', Trump says
“The Strait’s going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the Strait’s going to be open,” Trump said.
“The Strait’s going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the Strait’s going to be open,” Trump said.
Rezaei's statement comes amid months of US airstrikes intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and compel Tehran to return to negotiations.
Moshen Rezaei said the strikes had been planned as a response to a Ukrainian attack on a ship transporting cargo between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea.
Avner Vilan said Tehran believes its control of the Strait of Hormuz and ability to survive heavy damage would allow it to keep pressuring the region even after US strikes.
Traffic remained largely slow at Hormuz, with six vessels, three tankers and three bulk carriers, transiting the strait on Monday, down from seven on the previous day, according to Kpler data.
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The United Kingdom Maritime and Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said in a post on X/Twitter that a cargo vessel had been hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman.
This comes amid Trump’s escalating threats toward Tehran, as he claimed that "this is their last opportunity to sign an agreement."
Baghaei told the WSJ that all of Iran's negotiators were still in the country, except for Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi who was visiting a religious site in Iraq.
He added that “nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a deal, or total surrender, is accomplished.”
Military officials described the crowdsourcing-style email as unusual, while a second source said CENTCOM was reviewing its approach and considering a wide range of alternatives.