Iran, US still ‘far’ from breakthrough in Strait of Hormuz impasse

Tehran is ‘fully prepared’ for US to resume hostilities astatine immoderate moment, says Iran’s parliament talker Ghalibaf.

Iran and the United States person made advancement successful negotiations but are inactive a agelong mode from a deal, according to Iran’s parliament talker and main negotiator – amplifying concerns astir a imaginable instrumentality to warfare erstwhile their ceasefire is acceptable to expire connected Wednesday.

In a nationally televised code connected Saturday night, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that contempt “progress” with the US, “many gaps and immoderate cardinal points remain… we are inactive acold from the last discussion”.

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On Sunday, Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said that US ⁠President ⁠Donald Trump cannot warrant depriving Tehran of what helium called its ‘nuclear rights’.

“Trump says Iran ⁠cannot marque usage of its atomic ⁠rights, but doesn’t accidental ⁠for what crime. ⁠Who is helium to deprive a federation ‌of its rights?” Pezeshkian was quoted arsenic ‌saying by the Iranian Student News Agency.

The aboriginal of Iran’s atomic programme and the Strait of Hormuz are cardinal sticking points successful the negotiations.

The latest comments from the governmental enactment came aft Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reimposed restrictions connected the Strait of Hormuz, little than 24 hours aft reopening it. The reversal, it said, was owed to the continuing naval blockade of Iranian ports by the US.

Ghalibaf, 1 of Iran’s apical negotiators, called Washington’s blockade “ignorant” and “foolish”, saying Tehran would not let others to transit the strait if its ain ships were blocked.

He besides said Iranian forces are “fully prepared” for the US to resume hostilities astatine immoderate moment.

Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, said Iranian officials are utilizing the strait, done which 20 percent of globally traded lipid usually transits, “as a unit point” successful negotiations, calling it possibly the “most important bargaining chip”.

‘Start dropping bombs again’

Mediators person been pushing for a 2nd circular of US-Iran bid talks, aft a archetypal circular successful Islamabad ended connected April 12 with nary deal. The White House had said different circular would apt beryllium held successful Islamabad. But Iran’s lawman overseas curate said connected Saturday that no day could beryllium set earlier the 2 sides hold connected a “framework of understanding”, accusing Washington of maintaining a “maximalist” stance.

Donald Trump gave a bid of mixed remarks connected Saturday, saying Iran “got a small cute” connected the Strait of Hormuz and that the US would not beryllium “blackmailed”. The president added that US and Iranian officials remained successful interaction and negotiations were “working retired truly well”.

Earlier successful the day, Trump said the US would “have to commencement dropping bombs again” if nary woody was reached by Wednesday, erstwhile the ceasefire is owed to end.

Al Jazeera’s John Holman, reporting from Washington, DC, said Trump was apt trying to framework the latest setback successful the Strait of Hormuz arsenic “a bump successful the roadworthy alternatively than thing definitive”.

“What we don’t person truthful acold is whether there’s going to beryllium a 2nd circular successful the negotiations, arsenic was thought conscionable a time oregon 2 ago,” said Holman.

Abbas Aslani, a elder chap astatine the Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies successful Tehran, said Iran is facing a “dual track” of negotiations and unit from the US.

“The archetypal way was negotiations, but Iran has been saying that if the US is genuinely seeking an agreement, wherefore are they engaging successful a naval blockade, wherefore are they adding sanctions, and wherefore are they intensifying their subject beingness successful the region?” helium asked.

“There are nary signs of hold of these agreements, and nobody’s talking astir extending this ceasefire,” helium told Al Jazeera.