The United States has announced a significant shift in its foreign policy, explicitly stating that it is not engaged in negotiations with Iran and has halted all diplomatic efforts to resolve the longstanding tensions surrounding the Iran-Oman Joint Economic Commission (JEC) agreement. This announcement comes amidst escalating anger over Iran’s continued blockade of Iranian ports, a situation that has profoundly impacted global maritime trade. President Donald Trump, in a social media post on Tuesday, asserted that the naval blockade remains ‘in full force and effect’ and that all marine traffic was free to pass, citing a map depicting the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. He further posted a map illustrating the waterway’s strategic importance, emphasizing the US’s control over it.
In a separate statement, Trump’s office indicated that the US was ‘frustrated’ with Iran’s lack of progress in the back-channel discussions with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a move that Tehran has sharply rejected. The comments represent a reversal of previous statements suggesting a willingness to engage in diplomatic dialogue. On Monday, Trump had claimed that the US was conducting ‘back-channel’ conversations with Iran’s IRGC, a claim that Tehran has characterized as ‘delusional’ and ‘a fabrication’. Tuesday’s remarks appear to reflect Trump’s frustration, particularly concerning Iran’s continued obstruction of progress in the JEC and the US administration’s demand for Iran to surrender and threaten military action against Oman should it interfere with the issue.
Iran has reiterated that Hormuz would remain closed until Washington meets the terms of the JEC, which includes an agreement to end the hostilities that began in March. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, responded to Trump’s post, stating that ‘the eternal Persian Gulf’ would remain closed until Washington complies with the MoU’s stipulations. These stipulations include a complete lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports, the cessation of sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and a complete cessation of threats and military operations across all fronts.
Meanwhile, mediators continue to attempt to revive negotiations. Qatar stated on Tuesday that mediators are awaiting the expected Iran-Oman deal before Washington and Tehran can resume talks. A US official told Al Jazeera that ‘positive talks’ with Iran have been ongoing, but Trump has now ‘decided to wait’ and instructed his negotiating team to hold off until Tehran is ‘ready to make a deal’. A US official emphasized that there is ‘no conflict’ in the US administration’s position regarding talks with Iran, insisting on a stance of ‘strategic distance.’
To that end, a missile threat alert was issued by the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday evening, citing two ballistic missiles launched from Iran. The UAE reported that the missiles landed in the sea, prompting heightened alert levels and a statement from the Defence Ministry stating its air defenses were ‘fully prepared’ to deal with any threats. The Ministry also reported damage to a military base in Idlib’s eastern countryside, with no casualties.
Earlier on Tuesday, eight air strikes hit the Abu al-Duhur military base in Idlib’s eastern countryside, causing damage and no casualties, according to Syrian state media. The US and UAE have accused Israel of launching the strikes, with US special envoy Tom Barrack stating that the escalation ‘does not advance regional stability.’
The situation remains tense, with the rhetoric from both sides escalating and the potential for further conflict continuing. The JEC agreement has been a critical point of contention, and the lack of progress has heightened anxieties about the future of the region’s economic stability. The US has also issued a warning, stating that the situation could ‘extend the conflict’.
Source: Al Jazeera
