Satellite photo of Iran (with mask). This image was compiled from data acquired by the LANDSAT 5 and 7 satellites. Iran, Middle East, Asia, true color satellite image with mask (Photo by Planet Observer/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Debate over the future of the Strait of Hormuz continued on Tuesday, with Iran’s Foreign Ministry announcing it had held talks with its partners Saudi Arabia and Oman over the strategically important sea route.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Arabia’s Faisal bin Farhan and Oman’s Badr al-Busaidi regarding “recent bilateral and regional developments,” according to a Telegram statement translated by Google.
The ministry said the call “underscored the need to strengthen cooperation and advance joint diplomatic efforts to establish regional stability and resolve the insecurity imposed in the Strait of Hormuz caused by aggressive actions by the United States.”
This came after hostilities between the US and Iran appeared to have come to a temporary halt after a two-week offensive between the adversaries was briefly suspended on Friday.
Markets have largely reacted positively to the suspension, with stocks rising and oil prices falling on Monday, with sentiment buoyed by the possibility of a permanent peace deal.
But other Middle East actors have also continued military operations in recent days, with Saudi Arabia reporting overnight that it had intercepted “numerous drones” allegedly launched by Iranian-backed militias targeting Saudi oil facilities in Iraq.
However, according to Reuters, Iraqi militias did not claim responsibility for the attempted attack, while Yemen’s Houthis said they had attacked a Saudi Arabian oil facility, with the perpetrators remaining unknown at the time of writing.
Jordan’s military also announced that it shot down a drone in its airspace overnight.
US President Donald Trump praised the “good dialogue” with Iran late Monday. Iran’s Foreign Ministry continued to deny that direct negotiations were taking place with the United States, but suggested messages were being exchanged through intermediaries.
Nevertheless, President Trump told reporters on Air Force One that U.S. strikes would resume if talks did not progress.
Regarding negotiations with Iran, the president said separately at a campaign rally in Michigan: “We can’t bribe Iran. We have to defeat them. We’re going to beat them to the teeth. But let’s see what the outcome is. There are very friendly negotiations going on right now.”
