Iran and the US are continuing to dig in their heels in the ongoing standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, an issue which threatens to torpedo Pakistan’s efforts to broker a long-term peace between the arch-foes.
Iranian leaders are refusing to re-open the strategic waterway to international shipping as long as the Trump administration maintains its blockade on Iranian ports. The US has ruled out any easing of the blockade and further ratcheted up tensions this week by seizing several Iranian tankers in the Indian Ocean.
“Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire,” said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – who led Tehran’s delegation in the first round of talks in Islamabad.
The country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said Tehran is willing to return to talks but said the US “breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations”.
Pakistan has raced to set up fresh negotiations after a first round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month failed to break the deadlock. A return to full-scale war was narrowly averted earlier this week after Trump unilaterally announced an extension of the ceasefire just hours before its expiry.
Meanwhile, Lebanon is expected to push for an extension to the ceasefire with Israel during a second round of talks with Israeli officials in Washington later today.
Israel agreed to a limited 10-day truce with Hezbollah following an initial meeting with Lebanese representatives earlier this month.
Lebanese officials are pushing to extend the ceasefire – which expires Sunday – for another month while negotiations over Hezbollah’s disarmament continue.
